Prof. H. (Hans) Tietmeyer - Hoofdinhoud

As former president of the German Central Bank and junior minister of finance Hans Tietmeyer came to the forefront of monetary politics at the time the euro was conceived. He was and is seen as a stern defender of policies that made the D-Mark into a stable and hard currency. He continued to stress the importance of a solid euro even if, in the long run, it would mean member states would face severe economic reforms.

After his time in public office he continued work in the public sphere as advisor to a number of committees and expert groups on monetary affairs and (public) finance. Hans Tietmeyer also became active in the boards of several larger companies and banks, and accepted several positions at academic institutions. He has received numerous awards and honours for his work on financial and monetary issues, and his public service.

Name and surname

Johannes Bernard Josef (Hans) Tietmeyer

Date of birth

August 18th 1931

Date of death

December 27th

Place of Birth

Metelen (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Selected honours and distinctions

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  Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, 1996
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  Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy, 2000
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  Ludwig-Erhard medal, 2000
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  Kight Grand Cross of the First Class, 2011

And a number of other honours, awards and distinctions in Germany and elsewhere

Academic

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  economic and social sciences, Universities of Cologne and Bonn, 1953 to 1959

Doctorate

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  economics, University of Cologne, degree attained in 1960

CDU (Christian democrats)

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  manager, Cusanuswerk (research organisation of the German catholic church), 1959 to 1962
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  civil servant, German Ministry of Finance, 1963 to 1982
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  junior minister of Finance (with own competences in the fields of monetary policies and international organisations, 1982 to 1989
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  civil servant and from 1993 on, head of the German Central Bank, 1990 to 1999

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  chair of the board of trustees of the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, 1990 to 2003
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  several positions in the boards of academic institutions
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  several positions in advisory and/or supervisory councils in financial research institutions
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  a number of positions in the boards of various companies in the broader financial sector (including banks, investment funds and rating agencies)
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  several positions in the board of trustees of foundations and charities

Notable facts & remarks

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  on the 21st of September 1988 the Rote Armee Fraktion executed an assassination attempt. Tietmeyer was unharmed as a heavier calibre gun jammed and other shots failed to penetrate his armoured car
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  has repeatedly stated the euro was 'the price' Germany had to pay for re-unification; and has hinted it was a hefty price at that