Matthias Warnig
Germany- Biography of Matthias Warnig
- Transition to Business
- Connections to Putin and Gazprom
- Current Positions
- Personal Life and Reputation
Biography of Matthias Warnig
Early Life and CareerMatthias Warnig was born on July 26, 1955, in Altdöbern, East Germany. After serving in the army from 1974 to 1977, Warnig joined the Ministry of State Security of the GDR (Stasi) in 1975. He specialized in collecting and assessing data on West German arms while working for the Stasi. During his time in the army, Warnig also joined the Communist Party of East Germany.
Transition to Business
After leaving the GDR's communist regime, Warnig retired from the army as a major. He began working at Dresdner Bank in 1990, where he was rumored to gather information for the Stasi from 1986 to 1989. In 1993, Warnig played a role in establishing the joint venture "BNP - Dresdner Bank" in Russia. He later became the president of Dresdner Bank and oversaw its merger with Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein.
Connections to Putin and Gazprom
Warnig's ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin came under scrutiny. He was accused of using his personal connection to Putin to obtain necessary documents for the establishment of Nord Stream, a company controlled by Gazprom. Despite his alleged loyalty to the Kremlin, Warnig failed to secure a position on the board of Gazprom.
Current Positions
Warnig currently serves as a member of the supervisory board of VTB Bank and the board of directors of Bank Rossiya. He previously held positions at DrKW and was involved in evaluating the main asset of Yukos for the Russian Ministry of Justice. Warnig's candidacy for the board of Rosneft was speculated, but ultimately not put forward. He is also a member of the supervisory board of Verbundnetz Gas AG (VNG).
Personal Life and Reputation
Warnig is fluent in Russian and French. He has been described as responsible and attentive, with a talent for problem-solving. In his personal life, Warnig reportedly prefers an electric stove over a gas one.
