In 2002, Zielke joined Commerzbank as divisional board member.[5][6] During his early years there, he held management roles in retail and corporate banking.[7][8] From 2006 to 2008, Zielke has been chief financial officer and member of the board of managing directors of Eurohypo,[9] which had been acquired by Commerzbank a few months before.[10][11] In early 2008, he became head of group finance at Commerzbank.[12] Finally, in 2010, Zielke was appointed to the board of managing directors of Commerzbank, being responsible for the private customers segment.[13][14]
After having been appointed as Martin Blessing’s successor, Zielke took on the position of chief executive officer of Commerzbank on May 1, 2016.[15] He focused on core businesses and digitalization.[16] Although he had a contract until November 2023, he eventually resigned after disagreements with the bank's second-biggest shareholder, Cerberus Capital Management, in July 2020.[17]
^von Heusinger, Robert (2005). "Wette auf Deutschland". Die Zeit (in German). No. 48.
^Lebert, Rolf (July 2, 2008). "Commerzbank gibt Essen Hyp an Eurohypo ab. Integration soll bis Ende August abgeschlossen sein". Financial Times Deutschland (in German). p. 16.
