Jerry Rao, CEO, Mphasis: An ex-Citibanker turned IT and IT-enabled services entrepreneur

Ask any former Citibank honcho whether he's ever been to a formal renuion with others of his tribe of ex-Citibankers, and he'd probably reply that there's no need to. For, whether it's Citibank in the US or in Japan or in the Philippines or in India, the odds of a champagne cork at a bankers' banquet landing on a Citi alumnus are high. In the Philippines, for instance, each meeting of the Board of the Bankers Association is a "mini-reunion of sorts" of Citibankers, in the words of the Governor of Bangko Sentral (the central bank of that country), Rafael Buenaventura. That's because at least a dozen of Philippines' private banks have ex-Citibankers as CEOs. And, yes, the governor of the central bank too is one from the tribe. That's why former Citibankers of the Philippines are in jest dubbed the "Citibank mafia".

Back home, the "mafia" may not include a Reserve Bank Governor but the mob is very much out there, with all guns blazing. They're strutting their stuff at some of India's finest private banks, investment banks, global banks and are even breaking new ground in non-banking territory. Here's a quick run through some names of ex-Citibankers who occupy prominent and prestigious positions in Indian industry: Aditya Puri, Head of HDFC Bank, is an ex-Citibanker; as are Deepak Satwalekar (CEO, HDFC Standard Life), Gunit Chadha (Head honcho of IDBI Bank), Ravi Parthasarathy (Chairman & Managing Director, IL&Fs) and Jerry Rao (CEO, Mphasis). That's just a fleeting glimpse of ex-Citibankers at the top-the guys who occupy the corner room and the headlines. Don't forget the thousands who staff many of these organisations. For instance, HDFC Bank was started up by Puri with a clutch of ex-Citibankers. Similarly, Jerry Rao's top brass at Mphasis comprises former Citi personnel. "It's a huge family," says Sanjay Nayar, CEO, Citibank India.

Deepak Satwalekar, CEO, HDFC Standard Life One of the many Citi alum to have made it to the top slot in India Inc

Nayar will also tell you that this huge network extends globally. It has to, if you consider the large number of Citi-slickers who've made it big on the global stage. The most celebrated name is Rana Talwar, Citicorp's former head of retail banking in North America and Europe who went on to become CEO of Britain's Standard Chartered Bank Plc.

So what is it about Citi that makes its bankers tick? You could sum it up in a line: A rigorous selection procedure, and multi-functional, multi-locational, multi-cultural training along the way. Citi is one of the top brands at the country's premier institutes, and every year 25-30 of the finest minds are recruited, after thorough bouts of grilling and debating. Then for a period ranging from two to four years, these recruits are put through the mill and, as Nayar puts it, "humbled down." It's tough going initially, but the fruits of that labour come in the guise of early responsibilities. Citibankers get to manage and head departments early, once that crucial four-year test is done.

Rana Talwar, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank The most celebrated among the Citi-slickers who have made it big globally

But the most exciting part about being a Citibanker is that you're never in one place for too long. Consider the example of the current CEO of the India operations (who is also Managing Director of Citibank for the South Asian region), who's worn eight different hats in his 17 years at the bank, and who has always been on the move. Starting with training stints in different parts of India, Nayar was soon off to London, then New York, and Latin America some time in between. He's been across functions, ranging from operations and technology to cash management, product management and marketing, relationship management, emerging market equities and fixed income and derivates. Phew, it can't get more diverse than that. Clearly, if travelling doesn't turn you on, Citi's not for you.

As is evident from the Jerry Rao experience, the early accountability factor at Citi helps in the honing of the entrepreneurial instinct, as most Citibankers are given the mandate of creating and managing businesses of their own, be it ATMs or credit cards or 24-hour banking or auto loans, activities in which Citibank India enjoys pioneer status. And if you're a Citibanker, delivering at par isn't enough. For this highly self-motivated lot, over-delivery is the buzzword. Expectations have to be exceeded. That's what separates Citi from the rest of the pack. And with so many Citibankers moving on into newer pastures on the Indian banking landscape, that can only augur well for the sector. Of course, many Citibankers will go on to assume greater responsibilities in Citi's global scheme of things. After all, of Citi's international staff, Indians are the second-largest group, after the Americans.