Deutsche Bank is the big Asean winner as trade flows shift

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Deutsche Bank is the big Asean winner as trade flows shift

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Jakarta, Indonesia: The country is a key growth market for Deutsche Bank | Photo: Pixabay

The German lender’s decision to put its chips on southeast Asia is paying off handsomely. Under the leadership of Asia CEO Alexander von zur Mühlen, Deutsche Bank has doubled its capital in Vietnam and Indonesia, with more to come, moved a host of global roles to the region, and has seen Asean eclipse its India and China business in terms of growth and absolute numbers.

Rewind to the pre-Covid era, and you find Deutsche Bank at a crossroads. In July 2019, just over a year after being named chief executive, Christian Sewing described plans to transform the German lender as “nothing short of” a complete reinvention. Senior executives were axed. Entire businesses were closed.

The corporate bank was once again placed at the heart of the operation.

“This is the business that we were founded for,” Sewing said, pledging to make it “stronger than ever before”.

Today, only those with the hardest of hearts could deny that he has delivered on his promises. The bank’s shares have since risen 86%. In 2023, Euromoney named Sewing our Banker of the Year, lauding his bold, clear-eyed strategy and Deutsche’s newfound resilience.

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Asia editor and Global Private Banking and Wealth Management editor
Elliot Wilson is Asia editor and Global Private Banking and Wealth Management editor. He joined the magazine in 2020 having been a regular contributor focusing on China and the Indian subcontinent, Russia and Eastern Europe/the CIS. He is based in Hong Kong.
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