Citi has promoted John McLean to head of equity capital markets (ECM) and global asset managers (GAM) for Australia and New Zealand following more than two decades at the firm.
The appointment will see McLean relocating to Sydney from his current base in Singapore, where he holds the position of head of GAM, Citi’s financial sponsors business in Asia Pacific.
He brings extensive industry experience in ECM to the new role, which will see him leading the management of a regional team to advise global alternative asset manager and sovereign wealth fund clients.
Speaking about his new appointment, McLean said: “I am excited to be returning to Australia to lead the ECM and GAM businesses. There is significant opportunity in both private capital markets and ECM across Australia and New Zealand and I look forward to growing the team and delivering for our clients”.
McLean initially joined Citi in 2001 and during his tenure at the firm has worked extensively across ECM Australian and New Zealand clients. From 2010 to 2021, he also led Citi’s local capital markets origination team.
Mark Woodruff, Citi Australia chief executive, said: “[McLean’s] experience in Asia leading the global asset managers business combined with his prior experience leading the ECM business in Australia, makes him the ideal person to lead our growth plans in these areas into the future.”
The move marks an additional hire for Citi’s Australian business, which in May 2025 made three key hires, and one senior promotion to grow its offering in the region.
The appointments included the hires of Andrew Bruce as director and head of low touch execution, Christian Ford as director, equities high touch execution and Nicolas Lebon as director in the firm’ corporate solutions group.
Dan Smith was also internally promoted to take over as head of Australia, prime finance in the equities business.