On January 17, a LinkedIn post by Stefan Hoops, the CEO of German asset manager DWS, cautioning against the rise of "anti-woke" rhetoric, has garnered significant support from fellow executives in light of an upcoming national election.
Expressing concern, Hoops stated, "I am worried that the anti-woke rhetoric will lead us straight back to the macho 'Wolf of Wall Street' era," invoking the movie based on the life of Jordan Belfort, a controversial US fund manager and convicted fraudster.
The post sparked positive responses from prominent figures in the German financial sector, including executives from Deutsche Bank, SAP, Deloitte, EY, Bosch Mobility, and fintech N26.
In a rare move, Hoops broke his political silence in the corporate sphere, addressing concerns over far-right influence ahead of the approaching election.
The term "woke" connotes a focus on racial and social justice, yet has been appropriated by conservatives to critique progressive agendas.
As the 44-year-old CEO of DWS, a Deutsche Bank subsidiary, Hoops highlighted the escalating polarization in political discourse and advocated for a steadfast approach against sexual harassment and in favor of equal opportunities.
His post, featuring a gym workout photo, had received 4,429 reactions, 193 positive comments, and 45 reposts by Friday.