About Us
TH International GmbH is a management consulting firm specializing in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs )in the industries of electrical machinery, components, and medical technology. We support our clients in strategy development, process optimization, and international expansion – practical, efficient, and solution-oriented.
Our strength lies in combining solid technical expertise, intercultural competence, and many years of experience in industry, research, and education. The THI team brings diverse professional backgrounds from Europe and Asia – including leadership positions in industry, academic excellence, and successful work in teaching and intercultural management.
Here, you can learn more about our company and services. Discover our team and the individual expertise we offer our clients. Get to know our story and find out what makes us unique as a consulting firm.
OUR TEAM
Founder & CEO
Thomas Hinrichsen
Mr. Hinrichsen, born in 1968, began his professional career with an apprenticeship as an industrial mechanic in the field of mechanical and plant engineering. Even during this time, he developed a deep understanding of the core challenges and processes involved in industrial production. Building on this practical experience, he completed his qualification as an industrial foreman in electrical and energy technology at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in Nuremberg.
Following this, Mr. Hinrichsen took on a responsible role as a Technical Department Manager, where he was responsible for machine maintenance, the development of new production systems, and energy management. In parallel, he pursued further studies in electrical engineering at the Märkische University of Applied Sciences to deepen his technical expertise.
In 1997, his career took him to Japan, where he assumed the role of Deputy Director for Product Certifications for a German multinational company. He led a team of around 200 employees and was responsible for a turnover of €40 million. Under his leadership, the company succeeded in doubling revenue and achieving double-digit EBIT growth over several consecutive years.
Upon returning to Germany at the end of 2011, Mr. Hinrichsen became Regional Manager for Western Europe in the field of product testing. In this role, he successfully established two new national organizations and implemented restructuring programs in two other countries. These initiatives led to the region’s first positive EBIT in 2013.
As part of various interim management mandates, Mr. Hinrichsen worked in Australia, Hungary, Turkey, and the Netherlands. His focus areas included sales, restructuring, business development, company setup, and post-merger integration. Among other achievements, he oversaw the creation of a furniture testing laboratory and a new headquarters with integrated laboratory space covering 4,500 m², and was also responsible for the training and development of local staff.
Mr. Hinrichsen brings extensive international leadership experience, strong intercultural competencies, and is known for his flexibility and strategic thinking, particularly in complex transformation situations.
International Project Management
Makiko Tanaka
Makiko Tanaka holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Bath (UK) and completed the Ph.D. program at the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. During her studies, she gained in-depth knowledge in using research software such as SPSS, PRAAT, and DMDX, and acquired extensive experience in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of quantitative research data.
Since 2018, she has been living in Germany and continuously advancing her professional career.
In Japan, she worked as a translator at a patent office and as an English lecturer at a university. Additionally, for over 15 years, she taught Japanese at various proficiency levels at universities in Taiwan. In parallel, she successfully founded and managed a language school for Japanese and English.
Through her many years of work in the education sector and leadership of her own educational projects, Makiko Tanaka developed strong organizational skills, high adaptability, and a collaborative working style in intercultural environments. Her professional experience in Japan, Taiwan, and Germany provides her with valuable cultural insight that greatly enhances project management at TH International.
Thanks to her dedicated and structured approach to work, her many years of teaching and leadership experience, and her intercultural background, we regard Makiko Tanaka as an outstanding project manager with great potential for TH International.
Marketing
Dr. Chiharu Kato
Dr. Chiharu Kato supports our clients in the international expansion of their business activities – with a special focus on Japanese-German collaboration. After working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bonn, she transitioned to a German industrial company in 2015. There, her responsibilities included market analysis, establishing sales networks in Japan, translating technical documentation, editing product catalogs, and organizing trade fairs and business trips.
Her cultural interests are also reflected in her private life: she is actively involved in intercultural research and regularly participates in exhibitions and study trips.
Born in 1972 in Japan, Dr. Kato first studied German culture and literature, completing her B.A. in International Culture. In 2000, she moved to Germany to study biology at the Free University of Berlin, where she completed her master’s degree in 2008 with top honors. Her subsequent Ph.D. in marine biology at the University of Bonn was awarded magna cum laude in 2013, and included research stays at internationally renowned marine research institutes in the USA, France, and Japan.
Dr. Kato’s academic career and professional experience in intercultural contexts make her a valuable bridge between markets, people, and cultures – and an ideal consultant for international business strategies.