Citi expands Australia and New Zealand markets division with new leadership team

Citigroup has made a significant move to bolster its presence in the Australia and New Zealand markets by announcing seven key appointments across various verticals. These strategic hires, announced on September 2, 2024, aim to reinforce Citi's capabilities in markets sales, asset-backed securitisation & financing, G10 rates trading, corporate access, foreign exchange (forex), and equities electronic execution teams.

Citi’s market business plays a critical role in supporting the investment and transaction strategies of a wide array of clients, including corporations, governments, investors, and intermediaries. These new appointments reflect the company's commitment to enhancing its service offerings in Australia and New Zealand, positioning itself to better serve its clients in these dynamic markets.

One of the most notable appointments is that of Peter Hext, who has been named the head of asset-backed securitisation & financing for Australia and New Zealand. Hext is an insider with over 13 years of experience at Citi, having most recently served as the head of commercial asset-backed securitisation in New York. His deep understanding of the securitisation landscape, coupled with his extensive experience, makes him a valuable addition to Citi’s Australia and New Zealand team. Hext’s role will involve overseeing the securitisation and financing strategies, ensuring that Citi continues to meet the evolving needs of its clients in these markets.

Dan Birch has joined Citi as the head of markets sales for New Zealand. In this role, Birch will be responsible for driving client engagement and expanding Citi’s market share in the region. His appointment underscores Citi's commitment to strengthening its presence in New Zealand, a market that offers significant growth potential. Birch’s focus will be on building strong relationships with clients and delivering tailored solutions that meet their specific needs.

Citi has also made strategic hires in its G10 rates trading and corporate access teams. Ankit Khandelwal has been appointed to the G10 rates trading team, where he will bring his expertise in managing interest rate risk and executing trades across major currencies. Khandelwal’s role is crucial as Citi continues to provide comprehensive trading solutions to its clients, helping them navigate the complexities of the global financial markets.

Melanie Vandervord has joined Citi’s access strategies team, covering Australia and New Zealand. In this role, Vandervord will be responsible for enhancing Citi’s corporate access services, which connect institutional investors with corporate leaders. Her appointment is expected to strengthen Citi’s ability to facilitate meaningful interactions between investors and corporate executives, thereby driving better investment decisions.

Citi has expanded its corporate forex sales team with two new appointments, further enhancing its ability to offer robust foreign exchange solutions to its clients. The forex market is a critical component of Citi’s global operations, and these new hires will ensure that Citi remains at the forefront of currency trading and risk management.

Additionally, Citi has added a new sales trader to its equities electronic execution team. This appointment highlights Citi’s focus on delivering cutting-edge electronic trading solutions that provide clients with seamless access to the equity markets. The equities electronic execution team plays a vital role in ensuring that Citi’s clients can execute trades efficiently and effectively in an increasingly digital trading environment.

These appointments come at a time when Citi’s Australia and New Zealand markets business is experiencing significant growth. According to Cristina Chang, head of Citi Australia and New Zealand markets, the company is investing heavily in its capabilities to ensure that it can meet the complex needs of its clients in a rapidly changing market environment.

“The Australia and New Zealand markets business is experiencing material growth, and these recent appointments will strengthen our ability to deliver increased value to our clients,” said Chang. “We are investing in our capabilities to ensure we have the skills and experience needed to meet our clients’ complex needs in a dynamic market environment.”

Chang’s remarks reflect Citi’s strategic approach to growing its business in Australia and New Zealand. By bringing in experienced professionals across key areas, Citi is positioning itself to better serve its clients and capitalize on the opportunities presented by these markets.