The role of business in society is ever-changing. As stewards of business, our duty is to cultivate trust and ignite its massive potential to drive positive impact for all stakeholders along the way.

Dr. Katharina Weghmann

EY Global ESG Leader, Forensic & Integrity Services; Partner, Assurance, Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft

Bridge builder. Lifelong learner. Relentless advocate for progress. Fearlessly challenges the status quo. With purpose and passion, advising leaders around the world. Loves pizza.

Areas of focus

As part of EY EMEIA Assurance, Katharina is innovating and scaling strategic solutions for good corporate governance, ethics and integrity, including conduct and culture. She also leads the global ESG team within EY Forensic & Integrity Services. In this role, she is responsible for advising leaders on their ESG ambitions by promoting effective governance, along with data-centric and technology-driven approaches. 

With almost 20 years of experience in corporate and academia, she has made it her mission to advocate for business as a force for good, firmly believing in the pivotal role of assurance in fostering trust and confidence. She also spearheads a global initiative that revolutionizes our approach to fraud risk, both within and beyond the audit sphere.

Katharina holds a Doctor of Education and Master’s degree from Columbia University, Teachers College, an MBA from the International University of Geneva, and a Bachelor of Business from the Business School Lausanne. 

How Katharina is building a better working world

Following the financial crisis in 2008, one of Katharina’s biggest achievements has been contributing to advancing whistleblower protection in the US and in Europe. Through her academic research, teaching and advocacy at policy level, she has significantly impacted a shift in public perception of whistleblowing and enhanced visibility, as well as acceptance within the corporate world. She continues to influence change in this space through her public speaking engagements, as well as advisory services for corporate clients and intergovernmental organizations.  

Outside of the EY organization, Katharina serves on various boards and continues her teaching at universities and graduate schools to support the next generation of leaders. She is convinced that progress can be achieved through the transformative power of education.

Katharina has also been recognized with various awards in Germany, such as Top 40 Managers under 40 (Capital) and Top 25 Women Revolutionizing our Economy (Die Zeit, Handelsblatt). 

Katharina’s latest thinking

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