Desiree Fixler served as head of sustainability at the DWS. Her ouster after criticizing the German fund internally for "greenwashing" generated considerable outrage against parent company Deutsche Bank. In an interview, she talks about the mendacity of the financial industry and an apology she is still waiting to receive.
12.05.2023, 15.02 Uhr
Desirée Fixler, 51, had only been head of sustainability at fund company DWS, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, for a few months when then CEO Asoka Wöhrmann fired her in spring 2021. The American had accused management internally of having portrayed DWS as being far "greener" than it actually was. The whistleblower lost the subsequent trial before the Frankfurt Labor Court. Authorities in Germany and the United States are nevertheless following up on Fixler’s "greenwashing” allegations. Fixler has since relocated from New York to London and advises companies, regulators and non-governmental organizations on Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG), which includes areas such as environmental protection, social issues and responsible corporate governance.
DER SPIEGEL: Ms. Fixler, your sacking two years ago made big waves. In the meantime, CEO Wöhrmann has had to leave DWS, and Supervisory Board Chair Karl von Rohr is departing at the end of October. Do you feel any satisfaction?
Fixler: No. DWS and Deutsche Bank should have apologized. I’m like Monica Lewinsky. She’s still waiting for an apology from Bill Clinton. But at least I’m...
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