Citi’s Research Leadership Hire Signals a Push to Commercialise Market Intelligence

New York, 9 October 2026 – Citi has appointed Michael Zezas as its head of research, bringing in a senior former Morgan Stanley executive as the bank seeks to strengthen analysis across asset classes, regions and client businesses. The move highlights the strategic value large banks place on proprietary insight at a time when digitisation, automation and artificial intelligence are changing how research is produced, distributed and monetised.

Zezas spent nearly two decades at Morgan Stanley and most recently served as managing director and deputy global head of research. His earlier responsibilities included leadership of global equity and fixed-income research. Citi said his experience will support clients across Markets, Banking, Wealth and Services, linking the research franchise more closely to businesses that depend on timely macroeconomic, policy and market interpretation.