Bettina Orlopp

Dr. Bettina Orlopp serves as Chief Executive Officer of Commerzbank AG, Germany's second-largest private commercial bank, marking a historic milestone as the first female CEO in the institution's 154-year history. Born June 3, 1970, in Solingen, Germany, Orlopp has established herself as a transformational leader driving strategic innovation in European banking while defending Commerzbank's independence amid increasing consolidation pressures. With exceptional academic credentials, Orlopp earned her Diplom-Kauffrau in business administration from the University of Regensburg in 1994, followed by a doctorate in finance in 2002 with a dissertation on minority shareholder compensation. Her distinguished career began at McKinsey & Company in 1995, where she specialized in financial services consulting for banks and insurance companies, advancing to Partner in 2002 - one of the first women to achieve this milestone in the firm's traditionally male-dominated leadership structure. Joining Commerzbank in 2014 as Head of Group Development & Strategy, Orlopp demonstrated exceptional strategic acumen in digital transformation and mergers & acquisitions. She ascended to the Executive Board in 2017 as General Representative for Compliance, Legal and Human Resources, becoming the first woman on Commerzbank's previously all-male board. As Chief Financial Officer since March 2020, she has orchestrated significant financial improvements, elevating the bank's return on equity from 3% in 2018 to nearly 8% in 2023. Appointed CEO in October 2024, Orlopp leads Commerzbank's ambitious Strategy 2027, targeting a return on tangible equity exceeding 12% and net profit of €3.4 billion by 2027. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes independence, profitability, and sustainable growth while championing gender equity in banking. Under her stewardship, Commerzbank maintains its position as a leading European financial institution, committed to innovation and strategic excellence in an evolving banking landscape.