Mark Thom, head of Henkel Ventures, is one of our top 50 Emerging Leaders in corporate venturing for 2026.
Marc Thom assumed responsibility for Henkel’s corporate venture capital arm in 2022, when the chemical and consumer goods company launched its second CVC fund.
Drawing on years of experience, Thom established the structures, processes and governance that enabled Henkel Ventures to perform financially competitively with independent funds, while securing a sustainable strategic value.
The investment arm of Henkel addresses the various company needs by taking both near-term opportunities that may pay off in three to five years and longer-term investments that could reshape entire markets.
Thom describes the job as a continuous exercise in pattern recognition. “No one can predict the future with certainty,” he says, “but there are already signals that help us to imagine what the world might look like in 10 years and where we can make an impact.”
“No one can predict the future with certainty, but there are already signals that help us to imagine what the world might look like in 10 years and where we can make an impact”
His personal interests lie at the intersection of data and industry: AI-driven industrial technologies, digital platforms that bring flexibility to manufacturing and R&D, and scientific advances in enzymes, advanced materials and sustainability-enabling solutions with genuine industrial relevance.
Thom emphasises the importance of long-term thinking when working with emerging technologies. “Venture capital is a marathon not a sprint,” he says. Credibility with founders and trust inside the corporation matter as much as capital.
Henkel Ventures manages €300m in assets and invests globally from early stage through series B, focusing on digital industrial solutions, advanced materials and sustainability. The team also works closely as a co-investor with VC funds.
Recent investments include taking a stake in Aether Biomachines, which is engineering proteins to create “super materials” that could be used for CO2 removal, critical mineral extraction and the cleanup of ‘forever chemicals’.
The Emerging Leaders are mid-career corporate venture professionals who are making an outstanding contribution to their teams and the industry.
See the full list of Emerging Leaders here.
