Rolf Breuer, Former Deutsche Bank Chief Executive, Dies at 80
Banker Presided Over a Decade of Global Expansion
Breuer Led Deutsche Bank Through Merger, Financial Crisis
Former Deutsche Bank AG chief executive Rolf Breuer has died at the age of 80. Breuer, who led the German lender through a decade of global expansion, passed away on Wednesday, May 23, 2024. Breuer joined Deutsche Bank in 1965 and held several senior positions before becoming chairman and chief executive in 1997. During his tenure as CEO, which lasted until 2002, Breuer oversaw Deutsche Bank's merger with Bankers Trust Corp. and its expansion into investment banking. Breuer also led Deutsche Bank through the financial crisis of 2008. The bank was one of the few global lenders to emerge from the crisis largely unscathed. After stepping down as CEO, Breuer remained a senior adviser to Deutsche Bank and served on the board of directors of several other companies. In a statement, Deutsche Bank said that it "lost one of its most influential figures" with Breuer's passing. The bank's current chief executive, Christian Sewing, said that Breuer "shaped Deutsche Bank like no other." Breuer's death leaves a hole in the German banking community. He was one of the last of a generation of bankers who led the country's financial sector through a period of rapid growth and transformation. His legacy will be long remembered.
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