From the markets side to the centre of strategic sustainability – Patricia Posch’s career path is not only a prime example of internal development but also of the transformation of a professional role. Since 1 June 2023, the 34-year-old has been Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) at BayernLB. In this role, she succeeded Franz Dohnal, who had built up the sustainability division.

Her story at BayernLB began in 2010. Back then, the Munich native joined the dual study programme at the bank, choosing Banking & Finance at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University. Later, she completed an MBA at the FOM Hochschule. She went through various positions in corporate banking and became an expert in that field.

„I started on the markets side and then developed a deep fascination for a topic that could hardly be more strategic – sustainability“, says Posch. Her role enabled this transformation: as Executive Assistant to the CEO, she gained insight into the entire value chain of the bank. At the time, sustainability was gaining considerable momentum within the company.

Early on, it became clear: Posch is not only highly skilled but also conceptually strong. When a new staff unit for sustainability was created directly under the CEO’s office in 2020, she was part of the founding team. She helped shape the bank’s sustainability strategy, developed programmes, and formulated commitments. She experienced first hand how dynamic the field is: „Sustainability is a topic that is constantly evolving – hardly a year goes by without new impulses or perspectives.“

Where there was once room to maneuver, the field is increasingly being regulated today. She sees the growing ESG regulation – from the EU taxonomy to the CSRD – as a necessary step toward professionalisation.

A particular focus for her is reputation risk management. This involves fundamental questions: „Our financing decisions are defined not only by what we enable – but also by what we consciously exclude.“ ESG risks – whether ecological or social – are examined in detail. The underlying guardrails were developed by her and her team.

Despite regulatory challenges, Posch never loses sight of the market. „We were one of the first banks with a Sustainable Lending Framework, creating clear rules for sustainable loans.“ Yet, uptake has slowed. „We established the foundations for ESG products early on – but currently, we observe declining demand.“ Reasons for this lie in economic and geopolitical uncertainty – and in market fatigue.

Especially now, it is important not to see sustainability merely as a compliance exercise but as a strategic opportunity. „Attitude is important – but ESG gains substance and credibility only through consistent action.“ With her expertise in sustainability, market knowledge, and understanding of overall business contexts, she feels well prepared – also for the next phase of the ESG transformation.