In consultation with BaFin, Dr Karsten Hardraht, Chief Legal Counsel of KfW Group, will also assume the role of Head of Compliance at KfW with effect from 11 May 2026. At the same time, Hardraht will take on additional responsibilities as Anti-Money Laundering Officer, and as Financial Sanctions and Securities Compliance Officer at KfW.

Karsten Hardraht has been with KfW since 2006 and has held various leadership roles since then. He will guide Compliance through the planned transformation process.

“We are very pleased that Karsten Hardraht, with his extensive leadership experience and profound expertise, is ready to lead KfW’s Compliance into the future during this period of change. We are very thankful that he agreed to take on this responsibility in addition to his current duties as Head of Legal,”

said Dr Stefan Peiß, Chief Risk Officer of KfW Group.

Hardraht succeeds Dr Stephan Lauer, who will take a leave of absence for personal reasons and therefore resign from his position as Head of Compliance. Lauer has been responsible for the Compliance department since July 2024. Prior to that, he successfully restructured and headed Internal Auditing at KfW Group for more than six years.

Dr Stefan Peiß, Chief Risk Officer of KfW Group, said:

“As Head of Compliance, Stephan Lauer created a new group-wide awareness of compliance responsibilities and provided important strategic impetus. The entire Executive Board sincerely thanks him for his personal dedication and commitment.”

The resignation of Stephan Lauer is subject to approval by the Presidial and Nomination Committee of the KfW Board of Supervisory Directors.

Note: Photos of Karsten Hardraht and Stephan Lauer are available for download in the KfW Photo Archive.

Karsten Hardraht

Stephan Lauer