Sonja Schweizer joins Bethmann Bank Sustainability Advisory Board

Frankfurt, June 22 2023 - Bethmann Bank has expanded its Sustainability Advisory Board, established in 2011, from five members to six. Entrepreneur Sonja Schweizer joined the board in December last year. The founder of Sonja Schweizer GmbH adds to the business expertise of the advisory board. 

Sonja Schweizer is the fifth generation of a family of entrepreneurs. She places particular priority on sustainable development, in both the family office she runs with her husband, and her own company, “Sonja Schweizer GmbH”, founded in 2011, which is known for producing high-quality handbags and which focuses on environmentally-friendly manufacturing conditions, short supply chains and durability. Sonja Schweizer has taken on a number of advisory board roles in finance and sustainability since 2018, and also provides consultancy for start-ups. Moreover, she is a member of the Management Board of the Württemberg chapter of the Association of German Women Entrepreneurs (Verband deutscher Unternehmerinnen - VdU) and a member of the FidAR e.V. initiative for more women in supervisory boards. She has a particular passion for promoting female entre-preneurs and women in leadership positions.

Agnes Brelik, member of the Management Board of Bethmann Bank says, “Family businesses play a particular role in the necessary sustainable transformation of the economy, as they have always thought in terms of generations and sustainability is part of their DNA. So we are delighted to boost the business expertise of our Sustainability Advisory Board with Sonja Schweizer. Along with her fellow members, she will share her knowledge and experi-ence as a valuable source of impetus and advice.”

Now comprising six outstanding individuals, Bethmann Bank's independent Sustainability Advisory Board was established in 2011 and has been a permanent fixture in the independent monitoring of Bethmann Bank's sustainable investments ever since. The members apply their specialist knowledge in directly addressing questions relating to sustainable investments and in this manner are involved in reviewing investments with a view to their sustainability. The advisory board lends its support to Asset Management in aligning criteria for sustainable investments with new scientific and social developments. The members are kept up to date on all transactions concerning Bethmann's sustainable mandates. 

The members apart from Sonja Schweizer are:

• Ulf Doerner, Chair of the Sustainability Advisory Board: management consultant and expert on corporate social responsibility and change management
• Prof. Dr Daniela Jacob: meteorologist and Director of the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS); received the lifetime achievement award at the 2022 German Renewables Award ceremony
• Dr Achim Knecht: pastor of the Hesse and Nassau Evangelical Church
• Dr Verena Schuler: member of the Impact Investing working group of the Association of German Foundations and co-lead of The Wellbeing Project
• Christine von Weizsäcker: biologist and President of the European Network for Ecological Reflection and Action – Ecoropa

Founded in 1712, Bethmann Bank, a brand of ABN AMRO Bank N.V. Frankfurt Branch, is now one of the top three providers of private banking in Germany, serving primarily high net worth private clients, family businesses and asset managers. Its assets under management currently amount to more than EUR 42 billion. Bethmann Bank belongs to Dutch bank ABN AMRO, which has one the strongest capital bases among European banks. Like all members of ABN AMRO Private Banking, the name Bethmann stands for bespoke advice without a focus on proprietary products. Clients receive clear and comprehensible solutions with a particular focus on sustainability. Bethmann Bank is represented in all key economic regions in Germany, with 14 branches. ABN AMRO's private banking network in Northwest Europe manages more than EUR 200 billion in client assets and is one of the top three banks in the eurozone.

Communications and Marketing

Alexandra Vitt-Krauß

T +49 69 2177-1379

M +49 152 38235830

E alexandra.vitt-krauss@bethmannbank.de