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Citi names Kaustubh Kulkarni co-head of investment banking for Asia Pacific

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on September 3, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 22, 2026

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Citi names Kaustubh Kulkarni co-head of investment banking for Asia Pacific
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By Selena Li HONG KONG (Reuters) -Citi has appointed banking veteran Kaustubh Kulkarni as co-head of its Investment Banking Coverage for Japan, Asia North and Australia, and Asia South, according to a

Citi Appoints Kaustubh Kulkarni as Co-Head of Investment Banking in APAC

Citi's Investment Banking Leadership Changes

By Selena Li

About Kaustubh Kulkarni

HONG KONG (Reuters) -Citi has appointed banking veteran Kaustubh Kulkarni as co-head of its Investment Banking Coverage for Japan, Asia North and Australia, and Asia South, according to a memo issued on Wednesday and reviewed by Reuters.

Citi's Hiring Strategy

Kulkarni, who will join in December subject to regulatory approvals, will based in Singapore and serve alongside current head Jan Metzger, according to the memo, the contents of which were confirmed by a company spokesperson. Both will report to global banking head Viswas Raghavan.

Expansion Plans in Asia Pacific

Formerly with JPMorgan, Kulkarni was most recently the company's senior country officer for India and vice-chair of Asia Pacific region.

Over nearly three decades at JPMorgan, Kulkarni held several leadership roles, including Head of India, Head of Investment Banking India, and Co-Head of Southeast Asia Investment Banking.

The appointment adds to Citi's global hiring spree under Raghavan, who is pushing to strengthen the bank's dealmaking team and urging executives to collaborate across business lines to drive more transactions and opportunities, sources told Reuters.

Since joining Citi in June 2024, Raghavan, known as Vis, has recruited about 15 senior executives from competitors, most of them from JPMorgan, but also from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Ares Management and HSBC in recent months, Reuters previously reported.

The bank is bolstering its Asia Pacific investment banking team, planning to raise its headcount in Japan by as much as 10% to 15% over the next year and make new hires in Australia, Metzger told Reuters in July.

(Reporting by Selena Li; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

Key Takeaways

  • Citi appoints Kaustubh Kulkarni as co-head of APAC investment banking.
  • Kulkarni joins from JPMorgan, bringing extensive leadership experience.
  • Citi plans to expand its investment banking team in Asia Pacific.
  • The appointment is part of a global hiring strategy under Viswas Raghavan.
  • Citi aims to increase headcount in Japan by 10% to 15%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has been appointed as co-head of investment banking at Citi?
Kaustubh Kulkarni has been appointed as co-head of Citi's Investment Banking Coverage for Japan, Asia North and Australia, and Asia South.
What was Kulkarni's role before joining Citi?
Before joining Citi, Kulkarni was the senior country officer for India and vice-chair of the Asia Pacific region at JPMorgan.
What are Citi's plans for its investment banking team in Asia Pacific?
Citi plans to raise its headcount in Japan by as much as 10% to 15% over the next year and make new hires in Australia.
How many senior executives has Citi recruited under Raghavan's leadership?
Since joining Citi, Raghavan has recruited about 15 senior executives from competitors, primarily from JPMorgan.
When will Kaustubh Kulkarni officially join Citi?
Kulkarni is set to join Citi in December, subject to regulatory approvals.

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