Born on 1 August 1958 in Osnabrück, Germany

1979 – 1984
Studied at the University of Siegen, earning a degree in economics 

1984 – 1989
Research assistant at the Institute for Economic Policy,
Kiel University

1990
Awarded a PhD in political science from Kiel University

1989 – 1991
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, staff member in the Economic Policy Issues Department

1991 – 1994
Deutsche Bundesbank, Head of Group in the International Relations Department

1994 – 1997
Permanent Delegation of Germany to the OECD, advisor on monetary and financial issues 

1997 – 2006
Deutsche Bundesbank, Head of Section/specialist in the International Relations Department

2006 – 2011
Deutsche Bundesbank, Deputy Head of the International Monetary Affairs Division

2011 – 2016
International Monetary Fund (IMF), Executive Director for Germany

from 1 May 2016
President of the Bundesbank's Regional Office in Saxony and Thuringia