1975, graduate, University of Bonn. Formerly: Assistant then Chef de Cabinet to former German Chancellor Willy Brandt, then Chairman of Germany's Social Democratic party; Director, Press Office, city state of Hamburg; 1997-2001, senior positions with Hamburg administration, including State Minister for Economics; senior management and advisory positions in private sector; 2005, Director-General for Economic Policy, Federal Chancellery; 2005, State Secretary, Federal Finance Ministry. Since July 2008, current position.