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Citi banking head Vis Raghavan under fire for workplace toxicity
Raghavan is accused of calling employees “ignorant, inadequate, a waste of calories” and of hurling other such insults.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Mon, 04, May 2026
- 03:33 EDT
- 20
Vis Raghavan / Citi
Indian American Vis Raghavan, the head of New York-based Citigroup’s head of banking and executive vice chair of Citi, has found himself at the center of a controversy after allegations surfaced of workplace culture toxicity and his consequent exit from JPMorgan Chase.
Appointed to one of the top offices at Citi, Raghavan’s transition between companies was no less than a miracle. What seemed like an everyday layoff from JPMorgan Chase created buzz after Raghavan managed to pull off a two-day job hunt and made his way into one of the most high-profile leadership roles at Citigroup in February 2024.
Now, a report by Financial Times has made accusations that shed light on what happened behind the scenes.
Raghavan, who is now one of the top contenders to replace Citi CEO Jane Fraser, is being accused of having a bad temper and a propensity for using troubling language.
FT reported testimonies from multiple JPMorgan Chase employees who worked under Raghavan during his 23-year career at the company; they accused the noted investment banker of publicly berating and intimidating employees and claimed that Raghavan was the subject of two internal reviews for his conduct.
With former peers accusing him of using words including “ignorant,” “inadequate” and “a waste of calories” while berating them, his pay was cut for a year in response to rising issues with his behavior.
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In an example of problematic comments that drew complaints and the ire of the company’s leadership, Raghavan allegedly narrated a story, in front of dozens of junior employees on their very first day at the bank’s Canary Wharf office, about a woman he once found attractive who had now gotten fat, contrasting her with his own success at JPMorgan Chase.
Despite being credited with elevating JPMorgan to Europe’s top investment bank, Raghavan’s promotion faced strong internal opposition. Several senior bankers were reportedly unhappy, with some threatening to quit. According to the Financial Times, three employees had already left the bank after difficult experiences working under him.
Following a review, senior leaders determined that Raghavan’s position was no longer sustainable and informed him that he had no long-term future at JPMorgan.
However, before the bank could announce a new leadership structure, Raghavan swiftly secured a new role at Citigroup.
Citi countered the allegations, saying, “It’s disappointing the FT is publishing such frivolous, tabloid coverage … built on anonymous smears. Vis is a proven leader with a well-earned track record for driving results.”
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