Transaction Banking – Head of Asia South Core Trade Franchise (Documentary Trade) (Director)

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Job Overview

Team/Role Overview

Are you looking for a career move that will put you at the heart of a global financial institution? Then bring your expertise in trade finance, product management, client engagement, strategic execution, and leadership to Citi's Core Trade business.

By joining Citi, you will become part of a global organization whose mission is to serve as a trusted partner to our clients by responsibly providing financial services that enable growth and economic progress.

The Core Trade organization is responsible for a broad suite of documentary trade products, including Letters of Credit, Standby Letters of Credit, Guarantees and Documentary Collections.

The Head of Asia South Core Trade Franchise will be responsible for driving the growth, commercialization, product stewardship, and strategic development of the Core Trade business across the Asia South cluster. The role will lead a team of product professionals and work closely with Sales, Banking, Operations, Risk, Technology, and functional partners to deliver market-leading trade solutions, drive revenue growth and enhance client experience.

This role reports to the Global Head of Core Trade Network and Productivity and is a key member of the regional Trade & Working Capital Solutions leadership team.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Business Management

• Accountable for overall franchise performance including revenues, wallet growth, client penetration, market share expansion and return on allocated resources across the Asia South cluster
• Lead and develop the Asia South Core Trade team, providing strategic direction, people leadership and business oversight.
• Define and execute the Core Trade strategy across the cluster, aligned with global product priorities and regional growth opportunities.
• Drive revenue growth, portfolio expansion and market share gains across key client segments and trade corridors.
• Identify emerging market opportunities and develop targeted growth initiatives to strengthen Citi's competitive position.
• Partner with cluster, country, and global stakeholders to ensure alignment on strategic priorities and execution.
• Champion simplification, digitization, and scalable operating models to improve client experience and business efficiency.
• Drive performance management across the cluster with clear accountability for revenue, productivity, pipeline conversion and client outcomes.

Product Commercialization & Market Growth

• Own the commercialization and market development of Core Trade products across Asia South.
• Drive pipeline origination, deal execution and portfolio growth through close partnership with Sales, Bankers and Relationship Managers.
• Act as the senior product advisor for complex client opportunities, large transactions and strategic mandates.
• Promote innovative trade solutions and support the development of new products, structures and trade corridors.
• Coordinate product lifecycle activities in partnership with global product management teams.
• Monitor market trends, client needs and competitor developments to identify opportunities for growth and differentiation.
• Lead strategic client engagement efforts to deepen relationships and increase product penetration.

Stakeholder Management & Partnerships

• Build strong partnerships across Sales, Banking, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Legal, Technology and Finance.
• Collaborate with regional and global product leaders to share best practices and drive consistent execution.
• Influence senior stakeholders across the franchise to advance strategic initiatives and deliver business outcomes.
• Represent Citi's Core Trade business in key internal and external forums, including client meetings, industry events and regulatory discussions where appropriate.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability and client-centricity across the organization.

Risk Management & Governance

• Ensure strong product governance and adherence to applicable policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive disciplined risk management while balancing client needs and commercial objectives.
• Partner closely with Risk, ICRM and Business Risk teams to manage portfolio quality and support sustainable growth.
• Promote a strong control environment and ensure transparency in the escalation and management of issues.
• Maintain oversight of product governance, regulatory developments, and policy implementation across the cluster.

Talent Development

• Attract, develop, and retain high-performing product talent.
• Create a culture focused on client impact, execution excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Coach and mentor team members, fostering leadership capability and succession planning.
• Support employee development through meaningful career opportunities and targeted learning initiatives.

Qualifications

Experience

• 15+ years of relevant experience within Trade Finance, Transaction Banking, Product Management or related disciplines.
• Extensive experience in documentary trade products including Letters of Credit, Guarantees, Standby Letters of Credit and Collections.
• Proven track record of driving product growth, commercialization and revenue generation across multiple markets.
• Significant leadership experience managing teams within a complex, matrixed organization.
• Demonstrated success working across regional or global businesses and managing diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience covering large geographic regions and multiple regulatory environments.

Skills & Knowledge

• Deep expertise in documentary trade products and trade finance structures.
• Strong commercial orientation with demonstrated ability to drive revenue growth and client acquisition.
• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills with the ability to lead across organizational boundaries.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills with experience engaging senior executives and clients.
• Strong understanding of risk, controls, governance, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven ability to execute effectively in complex and rapidly changing environments.
• Experience leading transformation, digitization and process simplification initiatives is highly desirable.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience.
• Master's Degree is "Good to Have".

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Job Family Group:

Product Management and Development

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Job Family:

Product Management

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Time Type:

Full time

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Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

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Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

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