Citi’s 2025 Managing Director (MD) promotion cycle was significantly smaller than last year’s, and the technology division was one of the hardest hit. After an unusually large promotion class in 2024, the number of new MDs dropped sharply in 2025, signaling a clear pullback. This reduction was especially noticeable in technology, even though the division’s responsibilities were expanded to include broader business enablement.

The number of technology professionals promoted to MD nearly halved compared with the previous year. Promotions were unevenly distributed geographically, with most new MDs based in the US and the UK, and very few in India despite the country hosting a large share of Citi’s global technology workforce. This imbalance raises questions about how senior leadership opportunities are allocated across regions.

Tenure among the newly promoted technology MDs varied widely. While the average time spent at Citi before promotion was lengthy, some individuals advanced very quickly, while others waited decades. Overall, the data suggests that long service alone is no guarantee of promotion.

Another notable pattern is the lack of internally developed technologists among the promoted group. Many of the new MDs had significant prior experience at competing banks and were hired into Citi at senior levels before being promoted. This reliance on external hires may signal limited upward mobility for internally grown talent, reinforcing concerns among junior and mid-level technologists about long-term career progression at the firm.