Jörg Kukies
Jörg Kukies | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 21, 1968 Germany |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, politician |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Known for | Finance Minister of Germany (2024–2025) |
Jörg Kukies (; born 21 February 1968) is a German economist and politician who held the position of Finance Minister in the administration of Chancellor Olaf Scholz from November 2024 until May 2025. He is affiliated with the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
Early life and education
Kukies initiated his studies in Economics at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz before transferring to the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, where he obtained a Maîtrise degree. He pursued advanced education in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School between 1995 and 1997, earning a Master of Public Administration as a McCloy Scholar. Additionally, he completed a doctorate at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. During his academic tenure, Kukies led the Rhineland-Palatinate division of the Young Socialists (Jusos), a role later assumed by Andrea Nahles.
Career
Joining the Social Democratic Party of Germany at the age of 18, Kukies built a longstanding political affiliation.
He dedicated 17 years to investment banking at Goldman Sachs, ultimately becoming co-head for Germany and Austria and overseeing securities operations within that region.
From 2018 through 2021, Kukies functioned as State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance under Minister Olaf Scholz during Chancellor Angela Merkel's tenure.
In the period from 2021 to 2024, he served as State Secretary within the German Chancellery, acting as Chancellor Scholz’s sherpa for international gatherings such as the G7 and G20 summits.
Following the dismissal of Christian Lindner, Kukies was designated finance minister amid the 2024 German government crisis.
International organizations
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Ex-Officio Deputy Member on the Board of Governors (2018–2021)
European Union organizations
- European Stability Mechanism (ESM), Ex-Officio Deputy Member on the Board of Governors (2018–2021)
- European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), Board of Directors Member (2018–2021)
Corporate boards
- DHL Group, Supervisory Board Member (2020–2021)
- KfW, Deputy Member on the Board of Directors (2018–2021)
- KfW IPEX-Bank, Supervisory Board Member (2018–2021)