Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Rüdiger C. Sura has advised several German Federal Presidents and Foreign Ministers during his more than 25 years as an international top manager at Deutsche Bank and The World Bank, and subsequently founded companies in Germany and the United States of America over the last ten years.
After his traineeship and work in the Credit and Corporate Banking Department at Deutsche Bank, Dr. Sura participated in debt rescheduling negotiations with Brazil and Russia as a member of the Bank Advisory Committee (“London Club”). In this position he developed debt rescheduling strategies and agreements in close cooperation with other private and public creditors as well as multilateral institutions (1986-1995).
After building relationships with stakeholders in London and New York, Dr. Sura established a new competence center in São Paulo for Deutsche Bank's investment banking in South America. As Structured Finance Director, he supervised a team dealing with export and project finance as well as relationships with international financial institutions. Subsequently, he evaluated the micro- and macro-economic implications of the European Monetary Union (EMU) within the corresponding project team of the bank. In addition, he designed, operationalized, and managed the internal and external communication strategy associated with the introduction of the euro (1995-1997).
As Financial and Economic Advisor to the Policy Planning Staff of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bonn as well as in the German embassies in Washington, Tokyo, Bangkok and Jakarta, Dr. Sura advised on the financial crises in Asia, Russia, and Latin America. He prepared and organized conferences to promote closer dialogue between government and business, and lectured on globalization, international financial architecture and the “knowledge society” (1998-1999).
As Senior Economist at The World Bank in Washington, D. C., Dr. Sura was responsible for the debt relief package for Niger within the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative unit. He coordinated the Board documentation with the Nigerien government, the Bank's country and sector teams, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other multilateral creditors. He contributed to HIPC analyses and communications, including preparation of several policy and working papers and briefings. In recognition of his achievements, he received the President's Award for Excellence (1999-2001).
As Head of Corps Diplomatique in the Corporate and Investment Bank, Dr. Sura led a team responsible for Deutsche Bank’s relationships and business with German-based embassies and international organizations. Subsequently, as Director and Senior Relationship Manager in the Private Wealth Management division he advised affluent individuals, their families and select institutions (2002-2011).
As Chief Executive Officer of his German consulting firm, Dr. Sura advises private individuals and institutions on financial affairs, he is author of publications and gives speeches to public audiences and key economic and financial constituencies on globalization and the European Monetary Union (EMU). As President of the Management Board of Sura Holdings LLC, an investment company based in the USA, he is responsible in particular for strategic orientation and asset allocation. He also holds lectures at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management in the subjects of strategic management, business diplomacy, negotiation management and philosophy of life. Thus, his corporate concept is based on the three pillars (AAA): Advisory, Academia & Asset Management. Beyond that, he is Founding Member and former Treasurer of the Atlantic Initiative e. V. as well as Founding Member of an initiative to establish the European School Frankfurt. Furthermore, he is Member and former Board Member of the International Club Berlin (ICB) and worked as Deputy Chairman of the Board in several foundations (2011-present).