Henning Scherf (born 31 October 1938) is a German lawyer and politician of the SPD party who served as President of the Senate and Mayor of Bremen[1][2] from 4 July 1995 to 8 November 2005.

After studying law and social sciences from 1958 until 1962 in Berlin, Hamburg and Freiburg he worked for a Protestant students association (Evangelisches Studentenwerk) until 1964.

He was also the head of the "Vermittlungsausschuss" (negotiations-committee) which resolves conflicts concerning legislation between "Bundesrat" and "Bundestag", the two houses of the German parliament at the federal level.

His diplomatic skills, especially in forging compromises and running negotiations, are considered legendary, not only by members of his own party.

For some time Scherf was urged by the people to run for the German Presidency (Bundespräsident) which he declined because of family reasons.