Trio becomes duo: Hoerner Bank bids farewell to CEO

Hoerner Bank bid farewell to its CEO. At the end of May, Ralf Hirschfeld retired after nearly 30 years with the bank. After completing his apprenticeship as a banker at a savings bank, Hirschfeld pursued a career in the cooperative sector. Before joining Hoerner Bank, he served on the board of a cooperative bank.

Growth during Hirschfeld's term of office

During Hirschfeld's tenure at Hoerner Bank, the number of employees increased from 35 to 120. Total assets were €13 million when Hirschfeld took office in 1996 and are now almost a quarter of a billion euros. Heilbronner Bank also opened representative offices in Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, and Cologne, as well as a subsidiary in Poland.

Hirschfeld is not expected to leave Hoerner Bank completely. At the request of shareholders, he will run for the supervisory board at the annual general meeting at the end of June, a bank spokeswoman told the editorial team.

No change of course planned

With Hirschfeld's retirement, the number of Executive Board members has been reduced from three to two. The Supervisory Board will address the question of the Chairman of the Executive Board in the second half of the year.

According to a spokesperson for the bank, "Ralf Hirschfeld's retirement will have no impact on the bank's strategy." The bank will continue to pursue an "organic growth strategy" in heir tracing, market Hoerner Bank's funds nationwide, and offer specialized generational management nationwide. Annual staff growth of 5 percent is expected.

Duo replaces trio

Until further notice, the institute will be led by board members Stefan Baumann and Christoph Winkhart. Baumann will take over the human resources and marketing/sales departments from Hirschfeld, while Winkhart will be responsible for heir investigation.

Stefan Baumann joined Hoerner Bank as a Market Management Board member in May 2023. His career has also included positions at savings banks and cooperative banks. Before joining Hoerner Bank, Baumann was a member of the Board of Management of Heidelberger Volksbank for seven years. He also served as Head of Family Office and Private Banking at Volksbank Kraichgau.

Between these two positions, he worked for about a year as an independent management consultant specializing in private banking and asset management. Baumann began his career in investment consulting at Kreissparkasse Birkenfeld.

Christoph Winkhart joined Hoerner Bank as Chief Risk Officer in 2007. He also comes from the cooperative sector, where he most recently served as an association auditor.

About Hoerner Bank

Hoerner Bank's roots lie in the "Agency for Emigrants to America," founded in 1849, which just a few years later took over money and exchange business in America. In the 1930s, the company first collected inheritances in America. In the 1950s, it was transformed into Hoerner Bank.

Today, the bank is one of Germany's largest heir search firms. Other business areas include asset management and advisory services, generational management, and real estate financing, brokerage, and management.