Diversity of talent connects Citi to the globe

Aleta Froemmel has spent nearly her entire career at Citi Canada, beginning as a human resources assistant 23 years ago. Now, she is the bank’s country human resources officer.

“It takes a village. You never get there alone, and the village I’ve had at Citi has been extraordinary,” Froemmel says. “Our franchise in Canada continues to grow and develop.”

That growth is also global because of Citi’s diverse and high-achieving talent base, she adds.

“We’ve been recognized as having access to amazing, unparalleled talent who work on global initiatives, some of which also support Canada, but they are global teams,” says Froemmel.

Cedrick Parize, chief auditor, has only been in Canada since early September, but he joined Citi in London, U.K., more than two years ago.

“Citi has been expanding its footprint in Canada with roles that serve its global business,” he says.

Citi has operations in 180 countries, but its main focus is on some 90-plus nations where it has a broad variety of businesses. “Citi tremendously values joining the dots for our clients and offering the best service. More importantly, when it comes to Citi’s value proposition, it’s an incredibly diverse firm,” he adds.

The fact that Canada is so welcoming to a diverse population with varied cultural backgrounds makes it a great match for Citi, Parize notes. “This is translated into the service that we provide to our clients and that’s one of Citi’s greatest values. Diversity is what makes it such a unique bank.”

Parize is also head of one of Citi’s North American audit hubs. The firm opened an office in Toronto for auditors, expecting 60 to join, but within months it swelled to 260 members.

Parize says, “Citi is on a journey to deliver the best service to our clients.”

In Canada, that journey often begins in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). “We’re really fortunate in the GTA to have access to an incredible talent pool. That speaks to the youth, the schools, the universities, the colleges in the area and all of the other organizations,” Froemmel says. “It’s really just the diversity of talent as well as the strength of the education system.”

Parize agrees. “There’s a depth of skills. More importantly, Toronto and the GTA are attracting more and more large global firms.”

People are drawn to Citi because of its global nature and the diverse workforce, says Froemmel.

“We have access to other world areas to learn from and gain different perspectives, ideas and thoughts that broaden our experiences,” she says. “There’s nothing more exciting than to get on a call that starts with ‘Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, everyone.’”

Froemmel adds, “Diversity is such an amazing connector across the world, across oceans, across geographies. It creates one team, and we get insight into another way of approaching an issue. That’s the strength helping us attract the very best talent.”

Citi invests a lot in its diversity, equity and inclusion program, Froemmel says. One example is its approach to ensuring diverse lists of qualified candidates and diverse interview panels. “We ensure a range of thought, of perspective and of experience as we evaluate candidates.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Canada's Top 100 Employers winners, published November 15, 2024 in The Globe and Mail. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.