Blessing steps off the Commerzbank rollercoaster

From the debris of multiple crises, Martin Blessing has overseen a quiet return to stability and moderate success at Commerzbank, just as the entire European banking sector hit the skids once more. In his last major interview before stepping down as CEO, Blessing looks back on his tumultuous eight-year tenure.

Martin Blessing steps down as chairman of the managing board of Commerzbank on Wednesday. He is the last remaining chief executive of a large European bank that was bailed out during the financial crisis to have remained in office through the painful recovery that followed.

Still only 52, Blessing has served as CEO of Germany’s second biggest private bank for eight tumultuous years, since May 2008. That is longer than any other large European bank CEO, aside from Frédéric Oudéa, who was named as chief executive of Société Générale in the same month Blessing took the top job at Commerzbank.

Blessing steps off the Commerzbank rollercoaster

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Blessing steps off the Commerzbank rollercoaster

Thanks for your interest in Euromoney!To unlock this article:

Regulators should be upfront with taxpayers – and admit all deposits are guaranteed

The Danish Compromise tests Europe’s appetite for regulatory easing

What can US bankers really expect from Trump’s deregulation impetus?

Prem Natarajan on Capital One’s AI stairway to heaven

Thanks for your interest in Euromoney!
To unlock this article: