Citi UK chief executive Tiina Lee has announced that she will step down from the role by March 2027 to pursue a portfolio career as a non-executive director.

Lee, who has led Citi's UK business since October 2023, said she had decided to leave after more than three decades in senior leadership roles across the banking industry.

In a post on LinkedIn, she said: "It is never a perfect time to leave a role you love, but the moment feels right to share some news."

Lee added that she plans to "build a portfolio of non-executive director roles" and bring the experience she has gained from leading global organisations to company boards.

She will remain chief executive until at least March 2027 before taking on the role of senior adviser to Citi's international business until the end of the second quarter.

During her time at Citi, Lee has overseen the bank's UK operations across its banking, services, markets and wealth businesses.

She said: "The three years I have spent driving growth across banking, services, markets and wealth has been one of the most rewarding of my career. I am deeply inspired by what our brilliant teams have accomplished together as OneCiti and I extend my sincere gratitude to our clients, colleagues and stakeholders whose partnership has ensured that the UK. remains Citi's second largest market worldwide."

Before joining Citi, Lee spent more than 26 years at Deutsche Bank, where she held a number of senior leadership positions. She served as chief executive for the UK and Ireland from 2018 until 2023, having previously held roles including deputy chief executive for the UK, head of global markets UK, chief operating officer UK and head of UK strategy.

She began her banking career at Lehman Brothers in 1993, where she led the EMTN and ECP trading business before joining Deutsche Bank in 1997.

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