Deutsche Bank Names Simone Kämpfer as General Counsel and Ralph Nash as Head of Anti‑Financial Crime

Deutsche Bank Names Simone Kämpfer as General Counsel and Ralph Nash as Head of Anti‑Financial Crime

(IN BRIEF) Deutsche Bank is appointing Simone Kämpfer as its new General Counsel, effective September 15, 2025, replacing Friederike Rotsch, who will leave to pursue other opportunities. Kämpfer, a Freshfields partner and former public prosecutor, will join the Group Management Committee and report to CEO Christian Sewing. Concurrently, Nita Patel, Head of Anti‑Financial Crime since September 2024, is departing for personal reasons. Ralph Nash, currently Head of AFC EMEA and Global Head of Regions and Standards, will succeed her on August 1. Nash’s three decades of regulatory and compliance experience—most recently at HSBC—will support Deutsche Bank’s ongoing efforts to strengthen financial crime prevention under Chief Compliance Officer Laura Padovani.

(PRESS RELEASE) FRANKFURT, 30-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Deutsche Bank has unveiled two major leadership changes in its Legal and Compliance & Anti‑Financial Crime functions. Effective September 15, 2025, Simone Kämpfer will assume the role of General Counsel and join the Group Management Committee. She takes over from Friederike Rotsch, who joined the bank in September 2023 and has been instrumental in mitigating litigation exposures.

Simone Kämpfer currently serves as a senior partner at Freshfields, heading its White‑Collar Defence practice for Continental Europe. A former public prosecutor, she is lauded as one of Germany’s leading authorities on commercial law, compliance, governance, and regulatory investigations. Kämpfer also sits on the board of the Droege Group investment firm and will be based in Frankfurt, reporting directly to CEO Christian Sewing.

Christian Sewing commented, “Friederike’s stewardship of our Legal & Group Governance team has been vital in navigating complex legacy cases and strengthening our risk posture. We thank her for her contributions and wish her well. Simone’s exceptional track record in commercial law and leadership positions her perfectly to drive our Legal department forward in support of the bank’s strategic ambitions.”

In the Compliance & Anti‑Financial Crime division, Nita Patel—Head of Anti‑Financial Crime and Group Anti‑Money Laundering Officer since September 2024—has opted to depart for personal reasons. Patel revamped the division into a proactive risk management hub that shields clients across market cycles.

Stepping into Patel’s role on August 1, Ralph Nash joins as Head of AFC EMEA and Global Head of Regions and Standards. Nash, who arrived at Deutsche Bank in May, brings over three decades of experience in banking, regulatory affairs, and senior risk and compliance roles at institutions including HSBC. He will be based in Frankfurt and report to Laura Padovani, Management Board member and Chief Compliance & Anti‑Financial Crime Officer.

Padovani remarked, “We deeply appreciate Nita’s leadership in fortifying our financial crime defences. Ralph’s vast expertise and proven ability to implement lasting change will ensure we continue to enhance our prevention efforts for the benefit of our clients.”

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SOURCE: Deutsche Bank AG