A former executive at Citi, Julia Carreon, has initiated a lawsuit against the bank, alleging a pervasive culture of race and sex discrimination, including severe sexual harassment by Andy Sieg, a top leader at the institution. The suit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, accuses Sieg of orchestrating a campaign of “unrelenting and egregious sexual harassment” that ultimately damaged Carreon’s professional reputation and prompted her to resign in 2024.
Carreon, who was the global head of platform and experiences for Citi Wealth at the time of her departure, claims that Sieg suggested to colleagues they were involved in a sexual relationship, a notion that undermined her credibility. She describes her experiences at Citi as deeply misogynistic, particularly citing an internal investigation conducted by the bank’s human resources department, which she claims was biased and targeted only her.
Since her hiring in 2021, Carreon alleges that she faced hostility and disrespect, particularly from certain white male colleagues, leading to what she describes as a calculated effort to push her out of the organization. In a LinkedIn statement, she expressed that her attorney had made attempts to resolve the matter privately over the past 14 months but that Citi’s legal team preferred to pursue the case publicly.
In her announcement, Carreon emphasized the personal impact of her decision to come forward, stating that her experiences at Citi violated fundamental truths that she believed were worth defending, regardless of the costs involved.
In response to the allegations, Citi has denied any wrongdoing, characterizing the lawsuit as baseless and affirming their intention to contest it in court. The bank is facing additional legal challenges from Ardith Lindsey, another executive who has claimed harassment and discrimination in her role within Citi.
Sieg, who joined Citi after a stint at Bank of America and has received considerable acclaim for his work since joining, has previously faced scrutiny in relation to his workplace conduct. Just six months ago, reports surfaced regarding an investigation into his treatment of colleagues, sparked by multiple complaints against him from managing directors at the bank, including allegations involving Ida Liu, a former high-ranking female executive.
The ongoing turmoil at Citi sheds light on the challenges and systemic issues within corporate environments, particularly as concerns regarding workplace culture and discrimination continue to garner attention. Following her resignation from Citi, Carreon has struggled to secure new employment, now serving as a contractor at Veritas Wealth Partners. She also plans to file a discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the near future.
