IB graduate profile - Bernd Schmidt-Liermann

Graduated from the Montevideo British Schools, Uruguay, in 1977.

"After IB graduation in 1978, I moved to Germany in order to study business management at the Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, obtaining my university degree in 1983.

Thereafter, I moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I married my longtime friend and schoolmate Louise Ayling. For a long time I was the Lead Drummer of the Highland Thistle Pipes & Drums Band in Buenos Aires.

After 12 years as a banker (Lloyds Bank, Citibank, Chase Manhattan Bank, Deutsche Bank) in Argentina and Germany, I joined Volkswagen in order to build up and manage the Corporate Treasury Department in Argentina for four years. I am now a director at Volkswagen de Mexico, Puebla, responsible for the corporate treasury and risk management.

Louise and I have been happily married since 1984 and we have three children: Patrick, Sophie and Dominique. All of them are currently in the IB Programme at the Colegio Americano de Puebla in Mexico.

My wife Louise is an artist who specializes in decorative painting. She is now successfully running a decorative painting business called Maderika in Puebla. Should you be interested, her webpage is named Maderika.com.

We moved over from Argentina to Mexico together with our two female Great Danes Amanda and Lou-Lou. We also have a canary and four horses: Boomerang, Golden Eye, Aladino and Jazmin. Together with some local friends I have started a riding club nearby. In addition to riding, I also enjoy playing golf, football, and tennis.

While we are away from our home in Argentina, we take advantage of the various tourist attractions and lovely beaches throughout Mexico."