Gerhard is one of the principal founders of Agora and its anchor investor.

Gerhard is a retired banker with 35 years of experience and currently pursues private investments, mainly in the fields of microfinance and solar farming. He retired as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the CEO of DEPFA Bank plc, Dublin in October 2000. He joined the management board of the group in 1991 and as its spokesman since 2000. Gerhard previously held senior positions in the capital markets division of Deutsche Bank AG and Westdeutsche Landesbank. Prior to 1977, Gerhard spent 2 years as a Junior Barrister at the Supreme Court in Berlin.