[ by Melanie Gretchen ]

Michael Corbat has a tough act to follow.

The new CEO of Citigroup brings to the financial firm one thing his predecessor Vikram Pandit could not: Michael. Corbat did not run a Wall Street bank during the financial crisis.  It is no surprise, then, that the head of Citigroup’s business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, represents what many on the board consider the bank’s new direction, according to several people familiar with the matter.

• At Harvard, where he received a bachelor's degree in economics, he was an all-conference lineman on the football team
• Citi lifer: Joined the firm and its predecessor companies right out of graduation in 1983
• Served as CEO of Citi Holdings, where he (i) oversaw the divestiture of more than 40 businesses, including the IPO and sale of Citi's remaining stake in Primerica, and (ii) restructured Citi's consumer finance and retail partner cards businesses and divested more than $500 billion assets
• As Citi's CEO of Europe, Middle East and Africa since the start of the year, he oversaw all of the firm's business operations in the region, including consumer banking, corporate and investment banking, securities and trading and private banking services.
• Served as the CEO of Citi's Global Wealth Management unit
• Was the Head of Global Emerging Markets Debt, responsible for the origination, trading and sales of emerging markets fixed income debt
• Held a number of positions at Salomon Brothers, one of Citi's predecessor companies, including Managing Director roles in Emerging Markets, High Yield and Derivatives.