Countess Carola von Schmettow (, née Krautwurst; born 23 February 1964) is a German businesswoman who served as the chief executive officer of HSBC Trinkaus from 2015 to 2021.Felix Holtermann and Michael Maisch (11 March 2021), Führungswechsel: Carola Gräfin von Schmettow tritt als Chefin von HSBC Deutschland zurück Handelsblatt.
Early life Carola Krautwurst was born on 23 February 1964 in Düsseldorf. Her father was a civil engineer and her mother was a construction technician. She studied classical music with a concentration on vocal performance at the Robert Schumann Hochschule, graduating in 1989. She later attended the University of Düsseldorf, graduating in 1992 with a degree in mathematics and physical chemistry.
Career Von Schmettow started her career at HSBC Trinkhaus in 1992 and served as a board member from 2006. In 2014, HSBC named her as chief executive of its German unit HSBC Trinkaus, replacing Andreas Schmitz.Matthias Inverardi (March 5, 2015), Carola Schmettow named new CEO of HSBC's German unit Reuters.
In addition to her role at HSBC Trinkhaus, Von Schmettow served on the board of directors for HSBC France, VV Versicherungsverein des Bankgewerbes, ThyssenKrupp. She also served as chairperson of the management board for Burckhardt Compression, as well as the chairperson of the supervisory board at HSBC Trinkaus Investment Managers and at Internationale Kapitalanlagegesellschaft. She had previously worked as the chief executive officer of HSBC Investments Deutschland GmbH. She was one of Germany's first female business executives in finance.Tom Sims (10 January 2018), Odds stacked against women in German finance jobs, study says Reuters.
In 2021, von Schmettow resigned from her positions at HSBC.Felix Holtermann and Michael Maisch (11 March 2021), Führungswechsel: Carola Gräfin von Schmettow tritt als Chefin von HSBC Deutschland zurück Handelsblatt. From 2022, she was the subject of investigations into tax fraud.Sönke Iwersen and Volker Votsmeier (19 June 2022), Ermittlungen gegen langjährige HSBC-Deutschlandchefin Gräfin von Schmettow Handelsblatt.
Other activities Corporate boards Barmenia, Member of the Advisory Board (since 2016)2017 Annual Report: Advisory Board Barmenia. L-Bank, Member of the Advisory Board2017 Annual Report HSBC France. Eurex Exchange, Chairman of the Exchange Council (since 2017) Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Member of the Exchange Council Pension Fund for the Finance Industry (BVV), Member of the Supervisory Board NRW.Bank, Member of the Advisory Board2022 Annual Report NRW.Bank. ThyssenKrupp, Member of the Supervisory Board (2012–2020)Corporate governance statement 2011/2012 ThyssenKrupp.Additional new members for the Supervisory Board of thyssenkrupp AG ThyssenKrupp, press release of 12 December 2019. HSBC France, Member of the Board of Directors (2015-2018)
Non-profit organizations Association of German Banks, Member of the Board of DirectorsBoard of Directors Association of German Banks. Deutsche Bundesbank, Member of the Advisory Board for North Rhine-WestphaliaAdvisory Board for North Rhine-Westphalia Deutsche Bundesbank. Fritz Thyssen Foundation, Member of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees Fritz Thyssen Foundation. German Derivatives Association (DDV), Member of the Strategic BoardStrategic Board German Derivatives Association (DDV). Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Member of the CouncilCouncil Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. , Member of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees econsense. Kaiserswerther Diakonie, Member of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees Kaiserswerther Diakonie. Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Member of the Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees Tonhalle Düsseldorf. ZEIT-Stiftung, Member of the Board of Trustees (since 2014)Carola Gräfin von Schmettow ins Kuratorium der ZEIT-Stiftung berufen ZEIT-Stiftung, press release of November 5, 2014. Volkswagen Foundation, Member of the Advisory Board (2011-2014) 2011 Annual Report Volkswagen Foundation.2014 Annual Report Volkswagen Foundation.
Personal life She is married to Johannes Count von Schmettow and has five children.
References