Thomas M. Massie
Curriculum vitaeZurich, CH

CV

Thomas M. Massie

Data Analytics Analytics Engineering Decision Support AI-Assisted Workflows Data Literacy

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Thomas M. Massie alongside data visualisations and ecological modelsThomas M. Massie alongside data visualisations and ecological models

How I think

A holistic view, with an eye for detail

I was trained as an ecologist, and in ecology nothing makes sense in isolation. That still shapes how I approach a problem, a team or an organisation: as a system of parts that influence each other. I want to understand how the whole works before I change any single piece, and I appreciate the moment when scattered observations come together into a coherent picture.

Within that view, details matter. A small inconsistency can turn out to be decisive for the whole, so I take it seriously and follow it up until I understand where it comes from.

Curiosity is my default setting. Healthy doubt keeps it disciplined.

How I work

Structured, careful, transparent

I like to plan ahead. Before I start, I want to know where something is heading, who it is for and what might get in the way. Then I work steadily and carefully, and I finish what I take on, on time, even when things get hectic.

Documentation and transparency are not negotiable for me. Whatever I build, I document so that others can follow what was done, why it was done that way, and how to carry it on. That makes me easier to replace, and that is exactly the point: a company should never depend on knowledge that exists only in one person's head.

I'm not attached to how things have always been done. When I see a better way, I say so and help make it happen, while respecting what already works. And I keep learning, out of genuine interest rather than obligation.

Reliability isn't glamorous, but everything else rests on it.

How I work with people

Listen, explain, enable

I value working with people from other fields, and I enjoy learning from them, both about their domain and about how they approach their projects. I listen first, ask questions, and make sure I understand what someone really needs before I suggest anything.

I also enjoy explaining things, to colleagues and managers alike. I adapt to the person in front of me and take the time it needs, because I believe almost anything can be made understandable. Seeing someone become more confident and independent satisfies me more than being the one everybody has to ask.

I'm direct but friendly, I stay calm when the pressure rises, and when I've led others, I've tried to give them what they need to do their best work, not just a list of tasks.

I'd rather make a team stronger than make myself indispensable.

In their words

What others have said

Thomas Massie questioned existing processes constructively and developed innovative, practical improvements. His analyses, models and data products made a substantial contribution to professionalising data-driven decision-making at CH Media Entertainment.
CH Media, 2026 (translated)
His planning skills are remarkable, marked by excellent judgement and quick comprehension. These qualities show clearly in his creative ideas for solutions, his forward-looking planning and the professional execution of his projects.
comparis.ch, 2023 (translated)
He was a creative critical thinker, was strong in defining an independent view, and constructively challenged the status quo. He passed on his knowledge and know-how with excellent pedagogical and didactical skill.
PwC Switzerland, 2020
He has exceptional observational skills and attention to detail, and is able to form these observations into coherent and important critical assessments of situations and problems. He is very competent in translating problems into numerical models that can help explore problems and possible solutions.
University of Zurich, 2016

Experience

12/2023 – 10/2026

Senior Data Analyst | CH Media, oneplus

As Senior Data Analyst for the streaming service oneplus, I drove data-driven decision making by building analytics infrastructure to optimize content performance, understand viewer behavior, and reduce churn while supporting CH Media’s broader digital transformation.

Key achievements:

  • Managed diverse stakeholders and project requirements across diverse business units, establishing data partnerships that ensured alignment between stakeholder needs and project objectives.
  • Designed and established a centralized data warehouse in BigQuery (GCP) as organization’s single source of truth, co-managing ETL pipelines (Airflow DAGs) with data engineering to ensure data consistency across all business units.
  • Introduced Tableau as primary self-service BI solution, developing 10+ sophisticated dashboards and 30+ interactive reports (Quarto, HTML) that enabled detailed performance comparisons and reduced ad-hoc analysis requests by 50%.
  • Established a comprehensive performance measurement framework, creating custom scoring systems for content effectiveness and pioneering cohort-based customer analytics for churn and acquisition insights.
  • Implemented predictive models to classify accounts, and anticipate and avoid churn events.
  • Delivered actionable insights that directly informed content strategy and customer retention initiatives.
  • Fostered cross-functional collaboration by establishing data partnerships with 5+ business units (Content Management, Content Creation, Marketing, Customer Management, Business Development), working to reduce silos and create shared insights.
  • Led adoption of new analytics technologies through hands-on training and support, upskilling stakeholders in Tableau, Looker Studio, and data interpretation.

Technologies: SQL, GCP, Airflow, R, Python, Git, Tableau, Looker Studio, Quarto, Markdown, Claude Code

CH Media is Switzerland’s leading media company, active in television, radio, print, and digital media. Its streaming platform, oneplus, offers a wide range of Swiss and international series, movies, and original productions. With a strong focus on local content, CH Media aims to strengthen its position in the competitive streaming market.

06/2021 – 11/2023

Data Analyst | comparis.ch, Newsroom

As Data Analyst supporting the newsroom, I transformed complex market data into compelling stories and insights, enabling journalists to create data-driven content that empowered Swiss consumers to make better financial and lifestyle decisions.

Key Achievements:

  • Reduced article production time by 60% through implementation of coded templates (R/Quarto) for recurring data-driven stories.
  • Developed self-service analytics tools and automated dashboards (Tableau, R) enabling 4+ domain experts to access real-time insights independently.
  • Created 15+ interactive HTML reports replacing static Excel sheets, improving stakeholder engagement by ~50%.
  • Established a data governance framework including quality assurance protocols, version control (Git), and documentation standards adopted team-wide.
  • Successfully managed competing priorities across expert domains (finance, real estate, insurance, and automotive) under tight news deadlines.
  • Led upskilling initiatives to help team members become more data and technology savvy.
  • Enhanced team integration by onboarding and mentoring new data journalists and analysts, providing hands-on training in data pipelines, analytics tools, and newsroom-specific workflows.

Technologies: SQL, dbt, R, Python, Tableau, Flourish, Quarto/Markdown, ChatGPT

comparis.ch is Switzerland’s leading online comparison platform, helping millions of users make informed decisions across insurance, finance, real estate, and automotive sectors through data-driven insights and transparent market comparisons. With over 90% brand awareness in Switzerland, analyses from the newsroom regularly spark discussions in major media outlets (NZZ, Tagesanzeiger, Watson) and public discourse.

06/2020 – 05/2021

Further Education | Constructor Academy

Completed intensive bootcamps with Constructor Acedemy (formerly Propulsion Academy) in full-stack web development and data science, gaining hands-on experience with modern programming frameworks, machine learning techniques, and end-to-end application development. This comprehensive training bridged my analytical expertise with software engineering skills.

Technologies:

Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Three.js | Backend: Python, Django, Django REST Framework, Node.js, Express | Databases: SQL, PostgreSQL | DevOps: Docker, Git, GitLab CI | Tools: APIs, Flask, Test Driven Development

Data Analysis: R, Python, NumPy, Pandas, JupyterLab/Jupyter Notebook | Visualization: Matplotlib, Seaborn, Plotly, Dash | Machine Learning: Scikit-Learn, supervised/unsupervised learning | Deep Learning & AI: TensorFlow, Deep Learning, NLP, Generative AI | Statistics: A/B testing, hypothesis testing, probabilistic modeling | Tools: APIs, Git

06/2018 – 05/2020

Data Analyst | PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), Deals

As Data Analyst in the Deals advisory practice, I delivered rapid analytics and visualizations for time-critical M&A transactions, supporting due diligence teams and C-level executives with insights that directly influenced investment decisions across banking, pharmaceutical, and retail sectors.

Key achievements:

  • Thrived in high-stakes Deals environment with compressed timelines and rapid turnaround requirements, consistently delivering accurate analysis for M&A advisory and decision-making.
  • Delivered 20+ data analytics projects for M&A deals across banking, retail, pharmaceutical, and healthcare sectors, supporting due diligence and valuation decisions.
  • Built interactive Tableau dashboards for C-level executives, transforming complex financial data into actionable insights for deal negotiations.
  • Automated data collection and cleansing processes using R and Alteryx, reducing analysis turnaround time from days to hours for time-sensitive transactions.
  • Provided analytics support across 5 service lines (Strategy, Financial Services, Corporate Finance, Valuations, Real Estate), managing diverse stakeholder requirements and expectations.
  • Trained 40+ business professionals in both technical tools (Tableau, Alteryx, PowerQuery, PowerPivot) and analytical concepts (visualization best practices, data storytelling, data wrangling) through workshops and 1-on-1 coaching.

Technologies: R, Alteryx, Tableau, PowerBI, PowerQuery, PowerPivot

PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) Switzerland is the leading professional services firm among the Big Four, offering audit, tax, legal, and consulting services. Its expertise also extends to areas such as mergers and acquisitions, as well as corporate finance. With a strong local presence and access to PwC’s global network, it delivers tailored solutions that create long-term value for clients across industries.

10/2016 - 05/2018

Professional development break

Took an intentional career break to focus on family priorities, pursue continuous learning in emerging data technologies and methodologies, and strategically plan my transition from academia to industry.

05/2012 – 09/2016

Postdoctoral researcher | UZH

  • Location: University of Zurich (Switzerland)
  • Project title: Predicting ecological responses to environmental change.
  • Supervisor: Prof. Owen L. Petchey
  • Keywords: bacteria · ciliates · community dynamics · functional responses · mathematical modelling · microcosm experiments · non-linear dynamics · paradox of enrichment · response to environmental changes · statistical modelling

2006 – 2012

Doctoral thesis (PhD) | University of Potsdam

  • Ecology (summa cum laude, with highest honours)
  • Location: University of Potsdam (Germany)
  • Project title: Dynamic behaviour of phytoplankton populations far from steady-state – chemostat experiments and mathematical modelling.
  • Supervisors: Prof. Ursula Gaedke and Prof. Bernd Blasius
  • Keywords: cell cycle · demography · chemostat experiments · mathematical modelling · Moran effect · non-steady-state behaviour · response to environmental changes · transient population dynamics
  • Thesis: download

2005

Diploma thesis (M.Sc.) | University of Potsdam

  • Ecology & Nature conservation, Limnology, Microbiology, and Botany
  • Location: University of Potsdam (Germany)
  • Project title: Validation of a simple bottom-up model for the development of phytoplankton blooms – chemostat experiments and mathematical modelling.
  • Supervisors: Prof. Gregor F. Fussmann and Prof. Ursula Gaedke
  • Keywords: chemostat experiments · harmful algae blooms · initial conditions · mathematical modelling · non-linear dynamics · paradox of enrichment
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