Citi names chair; BCMA head

Citi has named Tony Osmond the chair of its local banking capital markets and advisory business.

In this new role, Osmond will advise clients on complex deals and support the BCMA leadership team.

As a result of this move, Citi has promoted the local head of corporate finance and advisory Alex Cartel, to run the BCMA business.

Cartel joined Citi in 2020 from Deutsche Bank, where he was managing director and head of investment banking coverage.

"These appointments reflect our continuous investment in our institutional business and our clients and will ensure we can meet the increasing activity,' said Citi Australia and New Zealand chief executive Marc Luet.

"Tony has led the BCMA business since 2012 and has created a positive, partnership-based workplace environment which has led to increased market share and revenues," he said.

Osmond led the Citi teams advising the Brookfield/Grok consortium on its proposed $7.5 billion buyouts of AGL, Blackstone on its proposed $9.8 billion acquisition of Crown, AusNet on its $17.5 billion acquisition by the Brookfield consortium, Boral on its response to the $9.2 billion Seven West Media takeover, and Woolworths on the $12 billion demerger of Endeavour Group.

Citi's head of BCMA for Asia Pacific Jan Metzger said Cartel's experience in leading transformational deals will ensure the continued growth and success of the business.

"Alex is one of Australia's most experienced and trusted M&A and ECM advisers and was recently reappointed as President of the Australian Takeovers Panel.

Joining Citi two years ago, Cartel has led the teams advising BHP on several successful deals, including the $86 billion unification of its dual listing and the advice to Santos on its $16 billion merger with Oil Search.

"In that time, Alex has also played key strategic advisory roles on other critical assignments for a range of clients, including Ausnet and Boral," added Metzger.