Mittelstandsrat (SME Advisory Council) at KfW

The Mittelstandsrat (SME Advisory Council) specifies the state mandate of Mittelstandsbank (SME Bank). It deliberates and takes decisions on proposals for the promotion of small- and medium-sized enterprises, taking into consideration the overall business planning of the institution.

Chair of the SME Advisory Council:

Katherina Reiche
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy

Deputy Chair:

Lars Klingbeil
Federal Minister of Finance

Further members are:

Elisabeth Kaiser
Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany
Minister of State
Federal Chancellery

N.N.
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

Thomas Köhler
Director General
Federal Ministry of Finance

Stefanie Pötzsch
State Secretary
Ministry of Economy, Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry of the state of Saxony-Anhalt

• Alternate Members:
  Elena Yorgova-Ramanauskas
  State Secretary
  Saarland Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digital Affairs and Energy
  
  Dr Ralf Teepe
  Director General
  Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate

Heinrich Hünting
Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport

• Alternate Members:
  Elena Yorgova-Ramanauskas
  State Secretary
  Saarland Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digital Affairs and Energy
  
  Dr Ralf Teepe
  Director General
  Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate

Dr Sabine Hepperle
Head of the Directorate
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Dr Armgard Wippler
Director General
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Kathrin Wünnemann
Head of Division
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Dr Julia König
Government Director
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

As of May 2025