Most recently, in the role of sport director, Thomas Biermaier was responsible for its motorsport commitments in DTM and Formula E. Like Head of Sport Marketing Harry Unflath and CEO of ABT e-Line GmbH Christoph Bergmann he will report to the owner and managing shareholder Hans-Jürgen Abt.
“Thomas Biermaier has been a key point of contact, business driver and provider of ideas to our company in various roles for the past two decades. With his open-mindedness, professionalism and impeccable personal demeanour and integrity, he’s a perfect fit for our company, so for me, officially entrusting him with responsibility for the company is the next logical move,” says Hans-Jürgen Abt. “I’m delighted about his acceptance and look forward to tackling the tasks and projects going forward together with him.”
Thomas Biermaier started his career with ABT Sportsline in 2000 and from 2002 to 2009 assumed initial responsibility as team manager of the motorsport team that clinched five DTM titles during this period, among other things. Subsequently, Biermaier, as head of export, was in charge of sales to more than 50 countries before returning to motorsport, a field he is very fond of, in the newly created role as sport director in 2013. In addition to the commitment as an Audi factory team in the DTM, he organised the company’s entry in the Formula E electric racing series where he celebrated further successes including Lucas di Grassi’s title win in 2017.
“I look forward to this new challenge and appreciate the trust that Hans-Jürgen Abt has placed in me,” says Thomas Biermaier, who grew up in Reit im Winkl and now lives on the outskirts of Kempten with his wife and two children. “For me, ABT is like a big family with tremendous employees, a fantastic atmosphere and many exciting opportunities. I’m proud of now having the chance to participate in shaping the company’s future with support by a strong team even more intensively than before.”
Also in the future, this team will include Florian Modlinger (38), who has been working as technical director motorsport at ABT Sportsline since the beginning of 2018 and now, being promoted to the role of director of operations, will be responsible for technical operations and fielding in all motorsport projects. Commercial management will remain with Thomas Biermaier. “This is absolutely my solution of choice in this area that is so enormously important for ABT Sportsline,” says Biermaier. “Even though I’d like to stay in close touch with motorsport, all aspects related to racing are in the very best hands with Florian.”
While Thomas Biermaier will officially assume his new role on 1 October 2019, he will immediately start to familiarise himself with his new responsibilities, also with support by the previous director of vehicle customization, Rolf Michl, who will return to Audi after two successful years with ABT Sportsline.