Frank Appel is a German manager who was CEO of Deutsche Post from 2008 to 2023.
Career A former McKinsey consultant, Appel first joined Deutsche Post in 2000.Matthias Inverardi and Nadine Schimroszik (4 December 2021), Deutsche Post CEO could become Deutsche Telekom chairman - report Reuters. From November 2002, he was a member of the Board of Management of Deutsche Post AG.
Appel was chairman of the supervisory board of Deutsche Postbank AG, but effective 31 December 2010, resigned his position on the supervisory board.Change in Postbank Supervisory Board Postbank, 2 December 2010
In his capacity as CEO, Appel accompanied Chancellor Angela Merkel on various state visits abroad, including to China in 2012Christian Geinitz (4 February 2012), Besuch der Kanzlerin: China will Europa nicht aufkaufen Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. and in 2014.Ralf Schuler and Henrik Jeimke-Karge (7 March 2014), China-Reise: Mit diesen Managern reist Merkel ins Reich der Mitte BILD.
At the shareholders' meeting on April 7, 2022, Appel was elected to the supervisory board of Deutsche Telekom AG until 2026. On the same day, he was elected by the supervisory board to succeed Ulrich Lehner as its chairman.
Other activities Government agencies Economic Development Board (EDB), Member of the International Advisory CouncilInternational Advisory Council Economic Development Board (EDB).
Corporate boards RWE, Chair of the Supervisory Board (since 2025)Kirsten Bialdiga (25 November 2024), Nachfolger von Werner Brandt: Frank Appel wird neuer Chefaufseher bei RWE Manager Magazin.Annual General Meeting approves dividend increase; Dr. Frank Appel new Chairman of the Supervisory Board RWE, press release of 30 April 2025. Deutsche Telekom AG, Member and Chair of the Supervisory Board (since 2022) Fresenius, Member of the Supervisory Board (since 2021)Michael Sen to succeed Mats Henriksson as CEO of Fresenius Kabi Fresenius, press release of 16 March 2021. DHL Global Forwarding, Chair of the Supervisory Board Adidas, Member of the supervisory board (2018–2019)Postchef Appel in Adidas-Aufsichtsrat gewählt Handelsblatt, 9 May 2018.Post-Chef Frank Appel verlässt Adidas-Aufsichtsrat Die Welt, March 19, 2019. Deutsche Postbank, Chair of the Supervisory Board (2008–2011)
Non-profit organizations Baden-Badener Unternehmer-Gespräche (BBUG), Member of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees Baden-Badener Unternehmer-Gespräche (BBUG). econsense, Member of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees econsense. Federation of German Industries (BDI), Member of the PresidiumPresidium Federation of German Industries (BDI). Max Planck Society, Member of the SenateSenate, as of February 2019 Max Planck Society. Working Group of Protestant Businesses (AEU), Member of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees Working Group of Protestant Businesses (AEU).
Personal life Appel was born in 1961, is married and is the father of two children. He spent his childhood growing up in Hamburg.
Education 1989 - M.Sc. in chemistry at LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. 1993 - PhD in neurobiology at ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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