Bettina Orlopp of Commerzbank now tops the Handelsblatt CEO-Impact-Index 2025 with 310 points, marking the first time a female CEO leads the ranking and surpassing the previous year’s winner.

Orlopp’s top standing reflects strong visibility, solid financial performance, a compelling employer brand, and a clear commitment to sustainability as highlighted in the annual report and public perception.

The index draws on seven scoring categories derived from multiple data sources, including television, radio, newspapers, and online platforms.

For the first time a woman outranks male DAX CEOs in the index, with Bettina Orlopp’s leadership at Commerzbank delivering the top score of 310 points.

Orlopp leads the 2025 CEO-Impact-Index among DAX leaders, surpassing Christian Klein of SAP who previously held the top position.

The 2025 rankings highlight Orlopp as the first female leader to top the list, signaling a historic shift in the composition of DAX leadership.

MediaTenor’s study analyzes 40 DAX chiefs based on seven criteria—including financial value, sustainability value, employer image, and CEO image—using media coverage as a core input.

Public image for Orlopp shows improvement relative to previous leaders, with highly favorable kununu ratings (4.1/5) and an 89% likelihood that employees would recommend her.

The analysis relies on sources such as MediaTenor, the Handelsblatt index, and kununu data, as reported by FR Frankfurt.

Online employer ratings (kununu) favor Commerzbank, noting high employee sentiment and recommendation rates, in contrast with lower figures for Deutsche Bank.

The index evaluates seven categories—financial value, sustainability value, employer image, and CEO image—each worth up to 100 points.

Context notes that Commerzbank’s leadership under Bettina Orlopp has shifted media perception positively compared with Martin Zielke’s tenure, signaling a notable improvement in public image.