A former managing director at Citigroup has filed a lawsuit against the bank, alleging that Andy Sieg, a key executive, sexually harassed her and forced her resignation.
In a complaint submitted in Manhattan federal court, Julia Carreon, who managed the bank’s wealth management division, claims Sieg initially supported her career, helping her achieve a promotion shortly after she joined in October 2023. However, she later described experiencing a “relentless and brutal campaign of sexual harassment, manipulation, and grooming” from him.
Carreon also accused the bank’s human resources department of launching a campaign against her that aligned with its “longstanding history” of bias and harassment towards women, which continued until Sieg’s retirement in June 2024.
Citigroup responded, stating, “This lawsuit is completely without merit and we will prove that through the legal process.” Interestingly, Sieg is not named as a defendant in the case, and Carreon’s attorney has not commented further.
Bank faces multiple harassment claims
Carreon seeks unspecified damages, including claims of racial and sexual discrimination under state and federal laws. Reports from Bloomberg News and the Financial Times last year noted that Sieg had allegedly made threats and excluded certain employees; concerns about his behavior were raised by both male and female staff.
Sieg did not address the allegations when contacted by Bloomberg and declined to comment to the Financial Times.
As the third largest bank in the U.S. by assets and one led by a woman—CEO Jane Fraser—Citigroup has made headlines for its managerial decisions, including Sieg’s notable appointment.
Additionally, the bank is also dealing with another lawsuit from a managing director, Aldis Lindsay, who has brought forward claims regarding violent threats from a supervisor and a widespread culture of harassment and gender discrimination within the organization.
Unequal treatment in the workplace
Carreon’s lawsuit claims that Sieg treated her “very differently” than her male colleagues, frequently contacting her and sharing sensitive information. She states that he began insisting she sit close to him during meetings while implying their relationship was romantic.
There was an instance where he mentioned sharing a “secret song” from Kings of Leon in front of two male colleagues, which left everyone in the room silent.
However, in May 2024, after hearing that human resources was investigating baseless accusations about her bullying and advancing due to “special access” to Sieg, he reportedly stopped communicating with her.
As noted in her complaint, “Carreon knew from experience that Human Resources would circle the wagons to protect Citi’s subordinates.” She believes that the campaign against her was quite effective.
