MADRID, 1 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The managing director and CEO of the German manager DWS, Asoka Wöhrmann, has announced his resignation as chief executive of the firm, which he will leave next week after the company’s general meeting, which he has appointed as successor from the next 10 June to Stefan Hoops.
The announcement of the resignation of Wöhrmann, at the head of the manager since 2018, has occurred hours after the DWS offices in Frankfurt were registered in the framework of an investigation for alleged ‘eco-laundering’ (‘greenwashing’).
“Stefan Hoops will take over as CEO of DWS after the end of the day of the annual general meeting (…) He will succeed Asoka Wöhrmann, who resigned as CEO of DWS Group as of the end of the day of the annual general meeting of this year”, reported the manager.
Following the entry into force of his appointment as CEO, Stefan Hoops will step down from his current role as head of corporate banking at Deutsche Bank, parent of DWS.
On its side, the largest bank in Germany has reported changes in its Management Committee, after the resignation of Asoka Woehrmann as CEO of DWS Group and the appointment of Stefan Hoops as successor from June 10, 2022.
“Asoka Woehrmann has played an important role in the success of our asset management in recent years,” said Karl von Rohr, Chairman of Deutsche Bank and Chairman of the DWS Supervisory Board, noting that under Woehrmann’s leadership, DWS has expanded its position in the market.
“With Stefan Hoops, we can appoint a proven capital markets specialist to lead DWS, who brings the strategic foresight, digitalization experience and leadership skills required for this role,” added Von Rohr.
“Asset management is and remains an important part of our business model,” said Christian Sewing, CEO of Deutsche Bank, who expressed his belief that DWS will continue its success story under the leadership of Stefan Hoops.
In addition, Deutsche Bank has informed that David Lynne, current director of corporate banking in Asia Pacific and responsible for the Fixed Income and Foreign Exchange business in the region, will assume the responsibilities of Hoops at the head of the corporate banking business.
As part of the change, Lynne will also become a member of the entity’s Management Committee. From his side, Jan-Philipp Gillmann, currently Head of Corporate Banking EMEA (excluding UK and Germany), will take on additional responsibility for business in Germany and global responsibility for client coverage across Corporate Banking.
This Tuesday, the German authorities carried out a search in the offices of Deutsche Bank and DWS in the city of Frankfurt, in relation to an alleged case of ‘eco-laundering’ that would affect the subsidiary of the largest German bank.
“The Prosecution’s measures are directed against unknown persons in connection with allegations of ‘eco-laundering’ against DWS,” explained a spokesman for the German bank, adding that DWS has continuously cooperated with all relevant regulators and authorities in this matter and will continue to do so.
DWS has faced investigations by regulators in the United States and Germany since its former chief sustainability officer, Desiree Fixler, alleged last year that the company inflated its ESG (environmental, social and governance) credentials, something it has always done. rejected the German manager.