Matthias Thorns is VP Global Labor Relations and Human Rights at Samsung Electronics, Vice-Chair of the ILO Governing Body and IOE Vice-President for the ILO. He joined the company in February 2023, coming from the International Organisation of Employers (IOE).

As IOE Deputy Secretary-General, Matthias Thorns led the IOE’s work on multinational enterprises and SMEs, sustainability and human rights as well as G20 and G7. He also shared the overall responsibility for the management of the IOE Secretariat.

He began his career as Adviser for Social Affairs in the European Business Federation UNICE (now BUSINESSEUROPE), before moving to the Confederation of German Employers (BDA) as Adviser and later Deputy Director of the International and European Affairs Department.

After leaving the Confederation of German Employers in 2012, Matthias joined the IOE as Senior Adviser, leading the work on Human Rights, G20 and G7, Global Supply Chains as well as SMEs.

In 2017 Matthias joined the Workplace Rights team of The Coca-Cola Company as Human Rights and Workplace Rights Manager.

Matthias is member of the OECD Sustainable Business Expert Group, the Stakeholder Advisory Board of the Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors (APSCA) as well as the Stakeholder Advisory Board of the Birmingham Business School. He was member of the Transition Team of ILO DG-elect Gilbert Houngbo.

Matthias holds a Master of Arts in European Studies and a Magister Artium in History and Philosophy, both from the University of Hannover.

He participated in the CGF “Future Leaders Programme” in 2018 and in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the U.S. State Department in July 2012.