The new country officer and banking head for Vietnam will be the first Vietnamese national to take on the role since the bank began operating in Vietnam more than three decades ago.

Citigroup has appointed Minh Ngo (pictured) as Citi country officer and banking head (CCOBH) for Vietnam as well as general director of the US bank’s Ho Chi Minh City Branch.

Ngo will be the first Vietnamese national to become Citi country officer since the bank began operating in Vietnam more than three decades ago, the firm said in a statement.

The appointment comes at a time when the Southeast Asian country's economic performance has risen to emerging market status, along with the rise of an affluent middle class that has piqued the interest of wealth managers and private banks. Banks that are adding to teams that include Vietnam coverage include HSBC, for example, and Switzerland's Bordier & Cie.

In her new role as CCO and banking head and general director for the Ho Chi Minh City Branch, Ngo will act as Citi’s most senior representative in Vietnam and the face of the franchise in the local market. She will be responsible for leading Citi’s strategy across all client segments and product lines, both domestically and internationally, to ensure that Citi remains the preeminent banking partner for clients operating in Vietnam.

Ngo will be accountable for the financial performance of the banking business, ensuring that Citi delivers the full value of its global network to clients while deepening partnerships across the corporate and institutional banking ecosystem. She will lead regulatory engagement, oversee legal entity governance, and drive Citi’s global transformation initiatives in Vietnam, the firm continued.

Additionally, Ngo will be responsible for maintaining a risk and control environment, adhering to the highest standards of governance, compliance, and conduct to safeguard Citi’s reputation locally.

Citi has served clients in Vietnam since 1993, providing corporations, financial institutions, investors, and government organisations with a broad spectrum of financial products and services. Over the past 30 years, Citi has supported Vietnam’s economic growth, international trade connectivity, and the expansion of multinational and local businesses.