Dear reader,

A sense of belonging is important. It provides security, courage, and guidance. Ideally, we encounter it in the most important areas of our lives – among family and friends, neighbours or in clubs. Cohesion grows from shared values and jointly supported preferences. 

In the past two years, our sense of belonging has been severely put to the test. We were told to keep our distance, and to keep to ourselves. And in the process, we became painfully aware of how important the previously so self-evident togetherness in our large and small structures is for our well-being.  

But it takes more than that to have a lasting impact on this sense. All over the world, we have found new ways of creating and maintaining togetherness. Whether virtually or with sufficient distance: perhaps we as a global community will even emerge stronger from this time. It is certainly urgently necessary. The terrible war in Ukraine upsets us greatly, also because it violates indispensable basic human values. It is therefore all the more important to stand united and resolute against this injustice. We should all stand up for this.  

A sense of belonging within companies has long since ceased to be determined solely by employment contracts and strategy. Employees are looking for a drive beyond that. At Deutsche Börse, it’s not just our purpose to jointly create trust in the markets of today and tomorrow. It is also our values, which we all stand for every day. And it's the conviction that what matters is good ideas, not origin, creed, sexual identity and orientation, or health and physical limitations. 

Last week, for the first time since the start of the pandemic, we were able to convey this to guests from outside the company. We hosted a group of children who spent a day at our Group headquarters on the occasion of Girls’ & Boys’ Day. And in two weeks’ time, at our Annual General Meeting, we will have the opportunity to let our shareholders know how we have taken the company forward in the past year – and how we will continue to ensure that Deutsche Börse remains much more than just a market infrastructure provider in the future.  

We are delighted that you, as a reader, are part of our small, large community – enjoy reading! 

Kind regards,
Oliver Frischemeier
Head of Corporate Communications & Engagement