From Local to Global, Citi's 20 Year Journey in Cultivating Belfast's Workforce
Citi Belfast is celebrating its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of significant growth and economic contribution to Northern Ireland. Starting with 375 employees at its inception, Citi Belfast has grown to over 4,000 people, establishing itself as Northern
Ireland's largest financial services employer. This milestone highlights Citi's crucial role in the local economy and its commitment to fostering local talent for global financial careers.
Since 2005, Citi Belfast has evolved into a critical global operational hub, providing essential support across key functions including Technology, Operations, Legal, Compliance, Risk, Human Resources, and Markets for Citi's global operations. This expansion has been pivotal in addressing Northern Ireland's "brain drain," enabling local professionals to build global careers without relocating.
Reflecting on the significant milestone, Peter Holden, Citi Belfast Site Lead, commented: "Our 20th anniversary in Belfast is a testament to the dedication, talent, and resilience of our incredible team. Since opening, our vision has been to cultivate long-term careers, empowering local professionals to contribute significantly to global finance. We are immensely proud of the extraordinary talent here and the pivotal role our colleagues play in Citi's global growth and
long-term strategy."
Tiina Lee, Citi UK CEO commented: "Belfast is an integral part of Citi UK. The exceptional talent pool, coupled with the dynamic financial services ecosystem, presents unparalleled opportunities for innovation, growth, and the delivery of critical global services. Our continued investment in Belfast reflects its strategic importance to Citi's global operations and our commitment to developing diverse local talent.”
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Since 2018, Citi has integrated over 120 apprentices into global careers and engaged over 30 professionals through its 'Reactivate Your Career' programme (launched in 2021). These talent development initiatives, bolstered by academic partnerships, create accelerated career pathways in financial services. Citi's pioneering Legal Apprenticeship Programme won ‘NI Apprentice Employer of the Year,’ at the Department for Economy Awards and its commitment to long-term progression is evidenced by three recent Managing Director promotions and over twenty members of the original 2005 cohort still with the firm.
Beyond job creation, Citi’s long-standing presence has elevated Northern Ireland's profile as an attractive investment destination. Leveraging its local and global network to strengthen the region’s financial and professional services ecosystem.
Anne Beggs, Chief Commercial Officer at Invest Northern Ireland said: “Citi’s establishment in Northern Ireland 20 years ago laid the foundations for the development of our world-renowned financial services sector and its ecosystem. Citi’s subsequent re-investments expanded the breadth, depth and scale of its operations here, and created a wide range of talent development opportunities and exciting career pathways. It’s confidence in our compelling investment proposition, has also inspired many other financial and professional services firms to locate here, thereby growing the overall cluster and driving economic prosperity. Invest NI is proud to have played a central role in Citi’s growth journey to date. We look forward to supporting its continued success in the region and advancing our shared vision for growth, excellence and opportunity.”
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