The Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) announces that the Hasso Plattner Foundation (HPF) has appointed Dr. Daniela Gerd tom Markotten as Managing Director Partnerships & Transfer at HPI, effective August 1, 2026. She joins HPI's leadership team alongside Prof. Tobias Friedrich and Dr. Henrik Haenecke.
Dr. Gerd tom Markotten has been a member of the Management Board of Deutsche Bahn AG responsible for Digitalization and Technology from September 2021 to December 2025. In this role, she oversaw, among other areas, research and development, IT, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and vehicle maintenance. Overall, she has around two decades of management experience with a focus on digital transformation, including several years in various leadership roles at Daimler AG in both the passenger car and truck divisions. She also served as CEO of the moovel Group, a platform for digital mobility solutions. In addition, she founded the deep-tech startup iuhhoo GmbH (UG), which developed software solutions for AI- and AR-based video calls for remote maintenance support. Dr Gerd tom Markotten studied Industrial Engineering and Management at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and holds a PhD in IT security from the University of Freiburg.
At HPI, Dr. Gerd tom Markotten will assume responsibility for the d-school, Engine, Maker Universe, Industry Partnerships, Professional Development, and Public Partnerships. In his role as Director Transfer, Dr. Frank Pawlitschek will continue to oversee the d-school, Engine, and Maker Universe and will report to her.
On her new role, Dr. Daniela Gerd tom Markotten says: "HPI is one of Europe's strongest places for digital engineering and computer science combined with entrepreneurial drive. At the intersection of research, industry, and society, I want to build bridges and ensure that ideas turn into real-world impact and lasting partnerships. I am proud and honored to join Tobias, Henrik, and an outstanding HPI team."
