Dr. Susanne Weiss,
Patron and founding president, partner of the law firm Weiss, Walter, Fischer-Zernin
Partner of the law firm Weiss, Walter, Fischer-Zernin, Munich
“There are many female entrepreneurs who would like to support women's development. I am proud to be able to make an active contribution in my capacity as founding president of the HVB Women's Council.”
Dr Susanne Weiss is a partner of the law firm Weiss, Walter, Fischer-Zernin in Munich and has been a commercial lawyer since 1989. She is a member of the Supervisory Board of HypoVereinsbank, a member of the Supervisory Board and the Advisory Council of Giesecke & Devrient GmbH and a member of the Supervisory Board of Wacker Chemie AG. Furthermore, she is the Chair of the Supervisory Board of ROFA AG. Dr Weiss is managing director of Blue Elephant Holding GmbH and LOGVEST Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH and is a managing owner of KHW Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH. Dr Weiss studied at and obtained her doctorate from the Faculty of Law at the University of Regensburg.
Dr. Theodor Weimer,
Patron, Board Spokesman of HypoVereinsbank, Country Chairman Germany UniCredit
Board Spokesman of HypoVereinsbank, Country Chairman Germany UniCredit, Munich
“Women are a highly significant customer group for us and make up more than 50% of our workforce. However, they are still underrepresented at management level at our Bank, something which we firmly intend to change. The Women's Council will be a valued sparring partner for the Management Board and will also assist us to make further improvements in the way we address the specific needs of our female staff and customers.”
Since 2009, Dr Theodor Weimer has been the Board Spokesman of HypoVereinsbank and a member of the Management Committee of UniCredit in his capacity as Country Chairman Germany. He has been with UniCredit since 2007 and was initially responsible for Investment Banking. Following his studies at Tübingen and St. Gallen and his doctorate at the University of Bonn, he worked for McKinsey from 1988 until 1995 before moving to Bain & Company, where he was promoted to the worldwide management team, specialising in consultancy work for financial services providers. Between 2001 and 2007, he was Managing Director, Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs, where he was a partner from 2004.
Prof. Dr. Dadja Altenburg-Kohl,
Deputy CEO of Kohl Medical AG, managing director and founder of the DrAK foundation in Prague
Kohlpharma GmbH, Merzig
“With the HVB Women's Council, we have the opportunity to share our experiences in all industry segments, to learn from each other and develop good ideas. We can try to set up a common platform for communication, using which we can identify, analyse and tackle problems.”
Prof. Dr. Dadja Altenburg-Kohl is the CEO, managing director and shareholder of Kohl Medical AG, as well as partner in the companies Assist and Amigo. In addition to her professional activities, she is a committed art collector, art patron and curator of several exhibitions and Biennials. She is chairperson of the "Saarländische Galerie, Europäisches Kunstforum e.V." association (art forum) in Berlin. One of her main areas of focus is the organisation of projects between the Czech Republic and Germany. As such, Prof. Dr. Dadja Altenburg-Kohl is founder of the DrAK foundation and the Montanelli Museum in Prague. Prof. Dr. Altenburg-Kohl studied medicine at the Charles University in Prague. After fleeing to what was the West at the time, she initially worked as a doctor.
Dr. Christine Bortenlänger,
Member of the Management Board of Bayerische Börse AG
Bayerische Börse AG, Munich
“As a former apprentice of the Bank, I am pleased to have the opportunity to draw on the experience I have acquired in my professional life to date as well as my impressions as a longstanding customer in contributing to the work of the Women's Council. I intend to provide suggestions for a forward-looking, modern bank that will set the yardstick for its competitors.”
Dr Christine Bortenlänger has been a member of the Management Board at Bayerische Börse AG, the organisation responsible for the Munich stock exchange, since 2000. In this role, she has been in charge of customer care, sales and marketing, press and public relations as well as organisation and IT. After completing her banking apprenticeship, degree in business management and doctorate, Dr Bortenlänger held a number of management positions in the financial sector before moving to the public-law entity Börse München in 1998 to take up a role as deputy managing director. Dr Bortenlänger was awarded the Mestemacher manager of the year prize in 2007. Two years later, the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Verdienstkreuz am Bande) was bestowed upon her.
Evi Brandl,
Managing partner of Vinzenzmurr GmbH, Vinzenzmurr Vertriebs GmbH, BVG Verwaltung GmbH & Co. KG, Chair of the Supervisory Board of Etienne Aigner AG
Vinzenz Murr GmbH, Munich
“As an entrepreneur, I am delighted to have the chance to make use of my experience to date. I would like to put forward proposals that will be of sustained value to the Bank in enhancing its competitiveness.”
Evi Brandl joined Vinzenzmurr (tradesman's firm) immediately after obtaining her university entrance qualification. She developed the company, which at the time consisted of a parent workshop and two branches, into one of Munich's leading established businesses. From day one, customers and employees came in at the top of the firm's list of priorities. The philosophy of delivering the highest quality has been a guiding principle in the company's history.
Stephanie Czerny,
Managing director DLD Media GmbH, Hubert Burda Media and co-Founder and Director of the DLD Conference
DLD Media GmbH, Munich
“With the Women's Council, we have the opportunity to place a key issue on the public agenda: How can we do better at promoting women in all areas of the economy?”
Stephanie Czerny is the managing director and co-founder of Digital Life Style Day at Hubert Burda Media, a platform that invests in internet companies such as Glam Media as well as hosting the DLD innovation conference. As a co-founder of the DLD Conference, Ms Czerny focuses on developing branding and communications initiatives. She also holds executive positions with several cultural and environmental organisations and is highly committed to various diversity causes.
Angelika Diekmann,
Head of Verlagsgruppe Passau (Passau publishing group)
Verlagsgruppe Passau GmbH, Passau
“I feel particularly strongly about the future promotion of women in the business world”
Angelika Diekmann has headed the whole Verlagsgruppe Passau since 1999, and has been a shareholder in the family business since 1993. Moreover, she is committed to the project MENSCHEN IN EUROPA (PEOPLE IN EUROPE), that she herself initiated, and to the activities of the Dr-Hans-Kapfinger Foundation. From 1971 to 1976, Angelika Diekmann was the correspondent for the Bavaria section of the Passauer Neue Presse newspaper until she took over the Health and Entertainment section in 1976. From 1978 to 2005, she was responsible for the Arts and Culture feature pages of the Passauer Neue Presse.
Britta Döttger,
Head of Group Treasury with SGL CARBON GROUP
SGL Carbon SE, Wiesbaden
“I'm looking forward to working in the HVB Women's Council and to an intensive exchange between industry and the financial sector. What inspires me is that mixed teams mean a competitive advantage because of their diverse perspectives, which makes a company more flexible.”
Britta Döttger has been the Head of Group Treasury with SGL Carbon GROUP, in charge of worldwide treasury activities in Asia, Europe and the Americas, since October 2004. She trained as a bank clerk before studying business administration in Frankfurt. After completing an MBA at Ashridge College and City University London, she headed the finance department of Fraport AG in Frankfurt. In the course of the privatisation of Frankfurt Airport in 2001, she was in charge of the project office and played a key role in the successful IPO of Fraport AG.
Nina Hugendubel,
Managing owner of H. Hugendubel GmbH & Co. KG, member of the Advisory Council of DBH Buch Handels GmbH & Co. KG
H. Hugendubel GmbH & Co. KG, Munich
“I see HVB's Women's Council as a good initiative to enhance development opportunities for female managers in companies and to draw attention to their point of view. This board provides an opportunity to give a female perspective to business and social policy issues, and I am therefore very pleased about and committed to my involvement in it.”
As a managing partner of H. Hugendubel GmbH & Co. KG, Nina Hugendubel is responsible for marketing, public relations and direct sales. She is a member of the Advisory Council of the DBH Buch Handels GmbH & Co. KG, which was founded in 2007 by the Buchhandlung Hugendubel bookshop company and the Weltbild publishing group. Following a spell abroad at the Sorbonne in Paris and on completion of a traineeship in the book trade, Ms Hugendubel studied politics, philosophy and economics in Passau and Berlin. After university, she switched to the publishing industry, where she spent six years working for Time Warner in New York and Holtzbrinck in Munich, New York and Stuttgart.
Andrea Karg,
Founder and managing director of Allude
Allude GmbH, Munich
“Complaining all the time is not enough. Those who want change must get involved. The impetus coming from the HVB Women's Council should help people to regain trust in their bank.”
Andrea Karg is the founder and managing director of Allude, one of Europe's most successful cashmere labels. Through modelling stints while still studying law, Andrea Karg got to know the fashion business early. In 1993 she decided to leave her law career behind and focus on her true passion: fashion. She combined her industry experience with her enthusiasm for cashmere, and launched her first collection on the market under the name ALLUDE. Since then she has steadily built up the ALLUDE brand.
Sabine Kauper,
Member of the Management Board with responsibility for finance at Sunselex AG (from 2012), member of the Supervisory Board of SKW Stahl - Metallurgie Holding AG, member of the Supervisory Board of Kapsch Traffic Com AG, Wien
Phoenix Solar AG, Sulzemoos
“True to the motto 'action not words', I intend to play an active role in the issues tackled by the Women's Council, with a special focus on supporting women in the financial industry.”
Sabine Kauper was a member of the Non-Executive Board of Phoenix Solar PTE Ltd, Singapore, from 2006 til 2011 and has also had a seat on the Supervisory Board of SKW Stahl - Metallurgie Holding AG since 2009. Ms Kauper studied business management at Munich University of Applied Sciences, specialising in taxation and auditing. She began her career in 1996 at a mid-sized auditing firm in Munich. She then took up a commercial management post at Phoenix SonnenStrom AG in 2000 and was the member of the Management Board in charge of finance from 2007 til 2011. She took part in the International Senior Executive Management programme of St. Gallen Business School from 2006 to 2007.
Ines Kolmsee,
Chairman of the Board of SKW Stahl-Metallurgie
SKW Stahl- Metallurgie Holding AG, Unterneukirchen
“The advantages of mixed leadership teams and the special strengths of women in leadership positions is beyond dispute; nevertheless, women are still underrepresented at the top management level. That's why I welcome the activities of HypoVereinsbank to pursue change in this area and am looking forward to being part of the Women's Council.”
Ines Kolmsee has been Chairman of the Board of the SKW Metallurgie Group since 2006. She is responsible for strategy, marketing, human resources, investor and public relations and operations. In 2009 she was selected Female Manager of the Year by Financial Times Deutschland. She is the only woman who heads an S-DAX company. From 2001 until 2003 Ines Kolmsee worked with Ericsson in international major account sales. From 2003 until 2004 she assumed various functions in the finance department of the ARQUES Group until she left that company in 2004 to join the operational management team of SKW Stahl-Metallurgie Holding GmbH, as it was then called.
Dr. Marita Kraemer,
Member of the Holding Board of Zurich Group in Germany, CEO of the European Centre of Excellence Credit & Surety
Zurich Gruppe, Frankfurt
“The current status of women in business and academia is no reflection of their potential. I would like to make an active contribution to boosting the support for women in business.”
Dr Marita Kraemer is a member of the Holding Board of Zurich Group in Germany and CEO of the European Centre of Excellence Credit & Surety. Dr Kraemer studied business management at the Bergische Universität Wuppertal and completed her doctorate at the Freie Universität Berlin. The first steps on her career path saw her completing a traineeship at the Bank für Handel und Industrie AG before switching to the corporate banking unit of Dresdner Bank Group. She then turned her attention to investment banking at the Dresdner subsidiary Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, where she was in charge of the Global Finance/Corporate Banking Southern Europe unit. She left Dresdner Bank in September 1999 to take up a new challenge on the Management Board of Zurich Versicherung AG.
Anja Krusel,
Senior Director Finance and Administration
Microsoft GmbH, München
“I hope that the Women's Council will encourage many young women to aspire to a leadership position - and I'm looking forward to networking with other women.”
Since January 2011, Anja Krusel has been Senior Director in the management team of Microsoft Germany and has been responsible for Finance and Administration. Prior to this appointment, she held various positions at the electronics company Philips. From 2002 to 2005, she was Senior Finance Director with Philips Consumer Electronics in Hamburg. In April 2005, she transferred to Philips Consumer Electronics in Atlanta in the USA as Senior Director of Financial Planning & Analysis. In October 2007, she took on the role of Senior Director of Finance and Talent Management for North America, in Andover, Maryland, USA. From June 2009 to December 2010, she was Chief Financial Officer of Philips in Germany and responsible for all central business functions in the DACH region as managing director (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).
Andrea Kustermann,
Chief Financial Officer of the Obermaier Group
Obermaier Gruppe, Munich
“Working from the customer's point of view and my solid knowledge from my bank training, I want to ensure, through greater understanding, that long-term value addedd is created for both parties to the bank-customer relationship.”
Andrea Kustermann is the Chief Financial Officer of the Obermaier Group in Munich. After completing secondary school and her bank training, she began her career in various positions in the retail and corporate banking business. Since her return to the career world after a three-year parental leave, she began as a management assistant with a real estate company before taking on administrative positions in property management and finally assuming responsibility for central financial management with the Obermaier Group. This company is active in the areas of land development, developer projects, dividing existing properties into residential units and the management of commercial properties.
Dr. Christine Frfr. von Münchhausen,
Independent business consultant and business mediator
Beratung, Training & Coaching, Pullach
“I would like to actively support the innovative approach of HypoVereinsbank to promoting women and contribute my experience in the implementation of change processes, management development and conflict management to the work of the Women's Council. It is also a particular pleasure for me to have the opportunity to serve as a mentor for a female manager.”
Christine von Münchhausen has been advising DAX companies and mid-sized enterprises since 2002 in the areas of organisational and management development. In addition she is a business moderator specialising in conflict management at the management level and between partners. She also trains judges and lawyers in this area and is a lecturer at the Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. After completing her doctorate at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign Copyright, Competition and Patent Law, Christine von Münchhausen spent several years as a lawyer with an international lcorporate aw firm.
Andrea Neuroth,
Managing Director KION Financial Services GmbH
KION Financial Services GmbH, Wiesbaden
“Through the Women's Council, I want to encourage competent young women to get more involved in the development of the Bank's economic and social policies.”
Andrea Neuroth is managing director of the KION Finacial Services GmbH and was head of finance with the Kion Group before. After a commercial apprenticeship Andrea Neuroth studied business administration at the Johann Wolfgang von Goethe-Universität in Frankfurt. A few years after joining the economics department of a DAX company, she was appointed department head, a position she retained on her transfer to the finance department. This was followed by leadership roles in the treasury and finance departments of various large German industrial companies.
Kristina Gräfin Pilati,
Lawyer and notary public, senior partner at Pilati + Partner
Pilati+Partner Rechtsanwälte Notar, Frankfurt
“I am pleased that HypoVereinsbank is enriching its work by incorporating a distinctly female perspective. I am delighted to contribute to this project by using the jointly defined aims as a springboard for ideas, by developing and implementing appropriate strategies and working with others as part of a team.”
Kristina Gräfin Pilati is a senior partner at Pilati + Partner. Her focal areas include inheritance law and property and corporate succession. She is an expert in family law and author of regular practice reports in this area published by the juris legal portal. Ms Gräfin Pilati is also a board member of the Frankfurter Zukunftsrat (Frankfurt council for the future) and ascribes great importance to an interdisciplinary and forward-looking approach to reflecting on, contributing to and shaping the future. She has worked as a lawyer in Frankfurt/Main since 1977. She obtained a degree in humanistic psychology in 1986. Ms Gräfin Pilati has been a notary public since 1991.
Prof. Susanne Porsche,
Producer
Summerset GmbH, Munich
“It has long been common knowledge that women can stand up for themselves. Nevertheless, there is still a need for women to offer encouragement to one another, to seek and give advice and to ask for and provide support. And above all, to stay conscious of the fact that women remain women who can have a career as well as a family.”
Susanne Porsche is founder of mps mediaproductions by susanne porsche GmbH, sunset Austria Film & Fernsehproduktionen GmbH and Film & Fernsehproduktion summerset GmbH. While studying medicine in 1979, Professor Porsche also worked as a children's TV presenter on the German ZDF channel. In 2002, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture awarded her the title of professor in recognition of her wide-ranging involvement in culture and her work as a film and TV producer. Professor Porsche was also awarded the "München leuchtet" (Munich shines) gold medal in 2005 for her commitment to social issues. In May 2006, Professor Porsche founded the Deutscher Lehrerpreis e.V. (German teaching prize) association, and she was awarded the Deutscher Lehrerpreis in 2009. In July 2008, the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesverdienstkreuz am Bande) was bestowed upon her.
Monika Rödl-Kastl,
Auditor, tax advisor and managing partner of Rödl & Partner GbR
Rödl & Partner, Nürnberg
“I am eager to improve my knowledge of an industry that I only know slightly and am looking forward to stimulating discussions on economic policy with other committed female managers.”
Monika Rödl-Kastl has a B.A. in business studies, is an auditor and tax advisor, and also a managing partner of Rödl & Partner. She joined Rödl & Partner back in 1981 and has been in charge of the establishment and expansion of the international office since 1990. Rödl & Partner has 3000 employees at 82 locations in 36 countries. Her clients include major German industrial and commercial enterprises.
Sabine Schaedle,
Authorised signatory, BMW Bank GmbH
BMW Bank GmbH, Munich
“In my own company the issues of diversity and support for women are major strategic challenges. I am looking forward to sharing experience with the members of the Women's Council and hope to provide impetus for positive changes to be made.”
Since 2003, Sabine Schaedle has been an authorised signatory at BMW Bank GmbH, and has been responsible for key sub-projects within BMW Financial Services Deutschland since 2008. Ms Schaedle began her career at Citibank AG in 1983 before moving to BMW AG to take up a position as a group development consultant in 1986. Positions as treasurer at BMW Group in Belgium and in group financing at BMW AG were followed by management roles at Rover Group Ltd. and BMW UK Capital Ltd. in Britain. She returned to BMW AG in Munich in 2001 to take charge of the business management planning and control department.
Annette Schnell,
Head of the Trade Fairs, Events and Key Account Communications department with Dr Schnell Chemie GmbH
Dr. Schnell Chemie GmbH, Munich
“After the global financial and banking crisis we need to rethink things. Forming a Women's Council at HypoVereinsbank, UniCredit Group, is a step in the right direction.”
Annette Schnell has been with Dr. Schnell Chemie GmbH since 1984, where she is in charge of trade fairs, events, and key account communications. In addition, she is the chairwoman of the advisory council of the charitable foundation Lichtblick Hasenbergl, which supports a daycare facility for children and adolescents from difficult backgrounds. Annette Schnell began her career in 1978 as an assistant to the management board with Fisher-HIFI Vertriebs-GmbH, Munich, where she was responsible for sales and marketing as well as controlling and credit insurance.
Alexandra Schöneck,
Treasury, Munich
“I support the Women's Council to provide a stronger presence for female perspectives in the financial sector. Women approach issues differently, which enables them to explore new paths!”
Alexandra Schöneck is the owner of Alexandra Schöneck Schatzmeisterei. She provides consulting services to companies in all areas of treasury management and also offers interim-management. After completing her training as a bank clerk, Alexandra Schöneck studied business administration at the University of Applied Sciences in Würzburg. She began her professional career at DZ Bank in Frankfurt and then moved on to Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Consulting as a Senior Consultant in the area of organisation and management consulting. Ms Schöneck subsequently joined Kromberg & Schubert GmbH & Co. KG where she set up the international treasury, before heading Group Treasury at Wacker Neuson SE.
Alexandra Schörghuber,
Head of the foundation advisory council and managing director of the Schörghuber Group
Schörghuber Stiftung & Co. Holding KG, Munich
“Providing concrete support in fostering opportunities for women to take part equally in the career world. – What other motivation would I need to accept the invitation to participate in the HypoVereinsbank Women's Council?”
Alexandra Schörghuber joined the board of the advisory council of the Schörghuber Group in 2008 and heads the family company alongside the chairman of the board, Dr. Klaus N. Naeve. After completing secondary school, Alexandra Schörghuber completed a hotel traineeship leading to a career in Germany, Switzerland and in the Bermudas. During her marriage to the Munich entrepreneur Stefan Schörghuber, she assumed numerous supervisory board and management roles related to the family's private assets, which include a carpark company (Bavaria Parkgaragen), ski lift and cable car operations and one of the world's largest salmon farms in Chile.
Maria-Theresia von Seidlein,
Founder and Shareholder SL Medien Gruppe GmbH
S & L Medienproduktion GmbH, Munich
“In my opinion, it is a brave step in the right direction for a leading European bank to address the issue of equal opportunities of its own free will.”
Since 1992, Maria-Theresia von Seidlein has been a shareholder of S&L Medienproduktion GmbH, Managing Director of VS Management GmbH and supplier of television productions, technical services and market research for the film and entertainment industry. Maria-Theresia von Seidlein studied history and political science in Munich and Florence. From 1984 to 1988, she was Managing Director of Radio M1 GmbH.
Gabriele Strehle,
Head designer of all Strenesse brands
Strenesse AG, Nördlingen
“Even as managers, we women must uphold our femininity. For that is when we act according to the principle of responsibility; we are responsible for the future.”
Gabriele Strehle joined today's Strenesse AG in 1973 and became head designer of all Strenesse brands within a short time. With her husband, Gerd Strehle, Gabriele Strehle has succeeded in transforming the suit and coat factory into an internationally acclaimed fashion house. Gabriele Strehle has been awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1999), the Oscar della Moda (2002), the Burda "Bambi" media prize (2002) and the Bavarian Order of Merit (2007).
Claudia Strittmatter,
Executive with Wacker Chemie AG
Wacker Chemie AG, Munich
“Banks and women – each in their own way – play a key role for our economy and society. Reinforcing these roles to pave the way to the future and forging stronger links between them is what has motivated me to make a commitment to the HypoVereinsbank Women's Council.”
Claudia Strittmatter is an executive in charge of corporate finance with Wacker Chemie AG, which she joined in 1995. Claudia Strittmatter trained as a bank clerk before studying business administration in the European Business Study Programme (ESB) in Reutlingen, Siena and London. As a consultant with the US-based strategic consulting firm Booz, Allen & Hamilton (now Booz & Company), she specialised in mergers and acquisitions as well as the manufacturing sector.
Ildikó Várady,
Head of the finance unit at Krauss Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG, Munich
“My goal in working on the Women's Council is to bring an end to the exclusively male domination of management in the financial sector. Women's management style is fundamentally different from that of their male peers and should therefore receive greater acknowledgement.”
Since 2007, Ildikó Mária Várady has had overall responsibility for the finance function at Krauss Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG. Ms Várady graduated in economics from Budapest University. She began her career in 1994 at Bayerische Hypotheken- und Wechselbank AG in Munich (subsequently Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG), where she worked in the export finance and risk management units. She was soon promoted to management positions following her switch to Krauss Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG.
Gabriele Zedlmayer,
Vice President Global Social Innovation & Global Citizenship, Hewlett-Packard Company and Member of HVB Women's Council
Hewlett Packard International, Zurich
“With its Women's Council, the Bank is sending out a clear signal. As a member, I would like to help in opening up more management positions for women.”
In her capacity as Vice President, Global Social Innovation & Global Citizenship at Hewlett-Packard, Gabriele Zedlmayer has been responsible for the implementation of social innovation programmes in harmony with the business strategy of HP since October 2009. Gabriele Zedlmayer studied business administration at Georgia State University and obtained an MBA in Finance from the University of Miami. Since joining Compaq in 1987 and then moving to Hewlett-Packard, she has held the post of Vice President at Marketing and Solutions for the enterprise business at HP in EMEA. Prior to that she was Vice President for Marketing Communications and Market Research at Compaq EMEA.
