Deutsche Bank names Morgan Stanley’s Raja Akram as incoming CFO
Deutsche Bank has tapped Morgan Stanley’s deputy CFO Raja Akram to become its next chief financial officer, as longtime finance chief James von Moltke prepares to step down in mid-2026.
Akram will join Deutsche Bank on October 1, 2025, and take a seat on the management board in January 2026. He will formally assume the CFO role after a transition period.
Von Moltke, who has served as CFO since 2017 and was appointed president in 2022, will remain in post until his contract expires in June 2026, overseeing the delivery of the bank’s 2025 financial targets.
The appointment comes as Deutsche Bank prepares to close out its current strategy cycle. Chair of the Supervisory Board Alexander Wynaendts described the timing as “a natural point” for leadership transition.
“James von Moltke has been instrumental in Deutsche Bank’s successful turnaround,” he said, citing improved profitability, shareholder returns, and stakeholder confidence during von Moltke’s tenure.
Akram brings extensive experience from senior roles at Citigroup and Morgan Stanley, including time as Citi Brazil’s CFO, Global Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer. He has served as Morgan Stanley’s deputy CFO since 2020.
“I’m honored to join Deutsche Bank, which is Europe’s leading bank with global reach,” Akram said. “I have been impressed with the bank’s transformation in recent years and the immense growth potential and greatly look forward to working with Christian and the rest of the Management Board.”
The CFO appointment was announced alongside a slate of other leadership updates. CEO Christian Sewing’s contract has been extended through April 2029, as the bank signals continuity during its next strategic chapter.
Sewing, who has led Deutsche Bank since 2018, is credited with stabilizing the firm after a period of reputational and financial turbulence.
“Transforming Deutsche Bank the way we did would not have been possible without James,” Sewing said. “I am very much looking forward to working with Raja Akram, who enjoys an excellent reputation as one of the most capable finance managers in the industry.”
Fabrizio Campelli, head of the corporate and investment banking divisions, will take on oversight of the Americas effective May 2025 and has also secured a three-year contract extension through October 2028.
Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank confirmed the upcoming departure of Chief Legal Officer Stefan Simon, who will leave in May for personal reasons. His responsibilities will be assumed by Sewing, consolidating leadership during the transition period.
The changes mark the latest step in Deutsche Bank’s broader effort to solidify leadership, simplify operations, and prepare for its next growth phase.
Akram’s appointment reunites him with von Moltke—both veterans of Citigroup—and positions him to build on the financial overhaul already underway.