• 28 Jan 2013 at 1:12 PM

This Is A Thing That’s Happening At Citigroup

By

For the next three weeks, the bank’s world-wide head of foreign-exchange sales is invoking his alter ego, “Bernieman.” The 53-year-old Mr. Sinniah’s mission: elevate Citigroup to the top of Euromoney magazine’s hallowed annual ranking of foreign-exchange firms…The last time Citigroup captured the top spot was in 2002. The New York bank then languished but has been inching its way back up the list, finishing second in 2012. Triumph this year is a job for Bernieman. Vowing to end Citigroup’s losing streak, Mr. Sinniah put his muscles where his mouth is. Around the world, Citigroup has plastered offices with a cartoon sendup of Mr. Sinniah clad in yellow tights, red briefs and a red cape, with a B on his chest and left index finger pointing toward the sky. “THERE IS NO TRY. DO!” the posters say. “GET TO NUMBER ONE.” “DO!” means persuading clients to support Citigroup in the Euromoney survey. “Every vote counts!” one poster adds. On Citigroup trading floors, traders, salespeople and analysts have been divided into teams to get out the vote. Instead of their typical uniform of button-down shirts and chinos, employees are wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Formula One racing-team names and Bernieman’s motto. [WSJ]

Comments (19)

  1. 1
    Posted by guest | January 28, 2013 at 1:36 PM

    lol

  2. 2
    Posted by VonSloneker | January 28, 2013 at 1:47 PM

    Bernieman powers activate!! Vindaloo fire breath…GOOOO!!

    - Guy who has examined his motives

  3. 3
    Posted by PermaGuestII | January 28, 2013 at 1:52 PM

    Sounds like something out of a Mel Brooks movie from 1978

  4. 4
    Posted by Sean | January 28, 2013 at 2:07 PM

    Bernieman>Burning Man

  5. 5
    Posted by Citifail | January 28, 2013 at 2:11 PM

    They should see how far they can take this losing streak!

  6. 6
    Posted by UBS Voting Quant | January 28, 2013 at 2:15 PM

    So Citi thinks their sales and trading teams time would be better spent getting the vote out as opposed to selling and trading… maybe we should implement this strategy.

  7. 7
    Posted by Scoop Jackson | January 28, 2013 at 2:20 PM

    Breaking news: Icahn targets (pun intended) wrong Rolls Royce in Ft. Lauderdale.

  8. 8
    Posted by Turbo Chart | January 28, 2013 at 2:29 PM

    Yeah, well, my sugary maple core would destroy your smelter!

  9. 9
    Posted by 390G | January 28, 2013 at 2:34 PM

    Sounds like something Gallo came up with. Gives the little fella something to do.

  10. 10
    Posted by Lone Starr Funds | January 28, 2013 at 2:35 PM

    Hey!

  11. 11
    Posted by The Rajster | January 28, 2013 at 2:38 PM

    Sri Lankans don't eat vindaloo.

  12. 12
    Posted by Guest | January 28, 2013 at 2:39 PM

    They must do tequila shots to get the courage to make the phone calls.

  13. 13
    Posted by The Rajster | January 28, 2013 at 2:39 PM

    Sri Lankans don't like vindaloo.

  14. 14
    Posted by Hobbes | January 28, 2013 at 2:40 PM

    I'm usually more concerned with the Tikka Masala fueled farts.

    - Guy who works with a lot of brown guys

  15. 15
    Posted by More motives | January 28, 2013 at 2:41 PM

    I believe that character played Gary and Ace's personal doctor in episode #4.

  16. 16
    Posted by Colorblind | January 28, 2013 at 2:44 PM

    The tights look green to me.

  17. 17
    Posted by mkng1 | January 28, 2013 at 2:52 PM

    So if I vote for you you'll stop harassing me with losing trading ideas?

    - Citi customer

  18. 18
    Posted by Guest | January 28, 2013 at 3:39 PM

    I see they took some liberties in the package department.

    -Mrs. Bernieman

  19. 19
    Posted by guest | January 28, 2013 at 3:49 PM

    Never!

    - Steve Englander