The COO for Group AI is the operational backbone of this new organization. As a critical partner to the Group Head of AI, this leader will drive strategic execution, own the operating model, hold the budget and ROI narrative, and partner with HR on the most consequential workforce transformation in the firm's recent history. This is a rare C-16 mandate to stand up - and run - the operating engine of one of the most consequential transformations in global financial services.
Key Responsibilities- Strategic Planning & Business Execution
- Partner with the Group Head of AI and the pillar leads to establish actionable team wide operating plans, OKRs, and KPIs for the Group AI organization.
- Drive end-to-end program execution across all seven AI pillars - from AI Strategy and Responsible AI through to the Core Platform, Agent Factory, and AI-First Development - ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to required quality standards.
- Own the OM/AI workstream: design, refine, and continuously evolve the operating model for the new Group AI organization, including governance forums, decision rights, and cross-pillar coordination.
- Identify opportunities for process improvement and operational efficiencies across the AI development, deployment, and adoption lifecycle.
- Financial Management & ROI Ownership
- Act as end-to-end owner of the Group AI budget and investment portfolio, in close partnership with Finance.
- Lead firm-wide AI ROI forecasting, financial benefits realisation, and quantified business case discipline across all pillars.
- Set financial targets, manage expense productivity, own the approval process for hiring and discretionary spend, and review monthly financials with the Group Head of AI to identify variances and corrective actions.
- Ensure efficient utilisation of AI infrastructure, compute, data, and vendor spend at global scale.
- Workforce Transformation & Talent
- Partner with HR to lead the workforce transformation agenda for the firm - including workforce impact modelling, reskilling, talent strategy, and organizational change required for an AI-first Citi.
- Lead the Group AI workforce management council and associated deliverables; own headcount planning, location strategy, and talent mobility within the Group AI organization.
- Champion a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and ownership across a global team operating in a regulated environment.
- Governance, Performance & Reporting
- Act as Chief of Staff to the Group Head of AI: run executive governance forums, leadership offsites, and cadence with the Board, regulators, and the Operating Committee.
- Provide central oversight of business-critical OKRs, milestone reporting, and executive dashboards to monitor the health of the AI portfolio.
- Establish and manage a robust governance framework for the tracking and realisation of strategic AI initiatives.
- Stakeholder Management
- Serve as the primary operating interface to the COO function, the Head of Tech & Business Enablement, Finance, HR, Risk, Legal, and the business-line COOs.
- Cultivate trusted, credible relationships with senior leaders across the firm; communicate progress, challenges, and successes to diverse audiences with tailored messaging.
What Success Looks Like (First 12 Months)- A single, transparent AI portfolio view with clear ROI commitments by pillar and business line, agreed with Finance.
- A working operating rhythm (planning, governance, reporting) trusted by the Group Head of AI, the CFO, and the CHRO.
- A workforce transformation roadmap co-owned with HR and adopted across the firm.
- Demonstrable acceleration in AI program delivery velocity - without compromising controls.
Qualifications- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in Financial Services, including a senior COO, Chief of Staff, or Business Execution role driving strategy, transformation, or large-scale operational change in a regulated environment.
- Seasoned operator with proven success running Citi-scale, highly-matrixed transformation programs; able to set priorities and triage in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
- Strong financial acumen - credible partner to the CFO; demonstrated experience owning multi-hundred-million-dollar investment portfolios, P&L management, budgeting, and ROI realisation.
- Workforce and talent fluency - credible partner to the CHRO; track record on workforce transformation, talent strategy, and change management at scale.
- Disciplined execution and operational excellence - process-oriented, with experience applying structured methodologies to complex transformations.
- Technology and AI acumen - fluency in modern AI sufficient to challenge, prioritise, and translate; track record of partnering on technology-led transformation. Deep technical expertise is not required, but genuine curiosity and conviction are.
- Risk & Compliance awareness - comprehensive understanding of corporate governance, regulatory frameworks, and risk management in global banking.
- Influence & communication - excellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to influence at Board, regulator, and Operating Committee level.
- Low-ego integrator - the kind of leader whose presence quietly elevates every other executive in the room; bias to action; resilient under pressure.
- Education
- Bachelor's degree required, preferably in business, finance, or a related field.
- MBA or other advanced degree strongly preferred.
Why This RoleYou will be the operating partner to the Group Head of AI at the moment Citi reorganizes itself around artificial intelligence. The decisions you make in the first year - on operating model, on capital allocation, on workforce - will define how the firm competes for the next decade
Job Family Group: Business Strategy, Management & Administration
Job Family:Business Execution & Administration
Time Type:Full time
Primary Location:New York New York United States
Primary Location Full Time Salary Range:$250,000.00 - $500,000.00
In addition to salary, Citi's offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.
Most Relevant Skills Please see the requirements listed above.
Other Relevant Skills For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.
Anticipated Posting Close Date:Jul 22, 2026
Automated Processing and AIWe use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening. Additionally, if you so choose, or consent, we can match your skills and abilities to other suitable roles at Citi.
Importantly, all our hiring processes and decisions, including determining your suitability for a role, are conducted, checked, and decided by individuals. Our automated processing and AI do not involve relying on automatic or autonomous decision-making. Please refer to any Jurisdictional Considerations, with specific provisions for your country (where relevant) for further details.
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