Ralph Lerch

Head Export Finance at DZ Bank

Ralph joined DZ BANK in May 2018. For Germany’s second largest bank, which also functions as the central institution in the cooperative financial network, he has formed a dedicated team of 20 export finance specialists.

Ralph started his banking career in the international business of Berliner Bank in the early 90s and moved to Frankfurt am Main as Global Head of Export & Agency Finance at Commerzbank AG in 2009. Over 3 decades Ralph has been very active in structuring export finance transactions to Eastern Europe/CIS as well as to Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He has built up a specific sector expertise in various sectors, e.g. energy incl. renewable energies, hospitals, metals & mining and agriculture.

From 2013 to 2018 Ralph was on parallel Chair of EBF’s Export Credit Working Group and has gained a specific expertise in banking regulation. He is still actively involved in advocacy work in favour of trade & export finance to regulators and stakeholders, e.g. as Co-Chair of the ICC Sustainability Working Group.

Ralph is also a founding member of the ICC Global Export Finance Committee and a member of the EulerHermes Group of Experts, the Berne Union Climate Working Group and the LMA Export Finance Working Party.