Despite the recent profits warning, BMW boss Oliver Zipse remains the leader among DAX company CEOs, according to the CEO Reputation Index compiled by business sector research firm Dr Doeblin Wirtschaftsforschung. This reputation index is determined every six months by a survey of business journalists, including editors of this newspaper, based on four individual indicators: „Expertise and personality,“ „Strategic vision,“ „Open approach to the media“ and „Likeability“.

With practically the same result as Zipse, VW CEO Oliver Blume was ranked second in the Reputation Index, with a substantial gain in index points compared to December 2023. Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing also improved, moving up to third place in July 2024 thanks to a significant improvement in index points, following fifth place in December 2023.

Like Zipse, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius was unable to maintain his index score from December 2023. He is almost tied with Sewing in 4th place, making Blume the only auto company CEO from the DAX to experience a gain in reputation among business journalists in a half-year comparison. Timotheus Höttges from Deutsche Telekom rounds off the top 5 DAX CEOs, who recorded a clear increase in his index points compared to December 2023, but was pushed out of fourth place by Sewing.

With an improvement from 30th to 6th place, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger has made an extraordinary leap forward in the CEO Reputation Index. Papperger is regarded as a symbol of Germany's changed military strategy and therefore now enjoys the special attention of business journalists.

Oliver Bäte from Allianz, Roland Busch from Siemens and, with a strong increase in index points, Markus Krebber from RWE also show upward trends in their reputation within the top 10. Christian Klein, CEO of SAP, remains in the top 10 with a slightly lower index score.

Of the CEOs of companies not represented in the DAX, Carsten Spohr of Lufthansa would rank third in the CEO Reputation Index of Dax CEOs.

As in previous studies, Zipse leads the CEO rankings in the „strategic vision“ indicator. The business journalists recognise his „ability to develop long-term visions while ensuring operational excellence in day-to-day business“. Blume is the front-runner in the „open approach to the media“ indicator. He „comes across as authentic; radiates conviction“. Blume does not shy away from making difficult cutbacks, which is remarkable in view of the powerful VW works council.

Sewing was able to secure the top spot in the „Expertise and personality“ indicator. With his experience from the retail business, he is considered „far less detached than one or two others“. Rheinmetall CEO Papperger performs best in the „Strategic vision“ and „Expertise and personality“ indicators.

„The automotive CEOs of BMW, VW/Porsche and Mercedes-Benz continue to occupy top ranks in the CEO Reputation Index, but the CEO competition from the world of banking and technology is closing in,“ explains project manager Jürgen Doeblin on the results of the latest survey.