A former senior executive at Citi has filed a lawsuit against the bank in London, claiming she was wrongfully dismissed after an internal interview allegedly turned controversial. The ex-employee, who served as a senior vice president in Citi’s Finance Solutions Group, argues that her termination was based not on misconduct but on her medical conditions and age.
The incident stems from a virtual job interview conducted in 2023. During the meeting, the executive was accused of making racially-insensitive remarks about working with Indian colleagues. The bank claims that she made derogatory statements because of which she had been temporarily removed from the virtual interview session. When the interview resumed, the interaction reportedly continued, but on a tense note.
Following the interview, the employee was informed by Citi’s human resources team that she was being investigated for a potential violation of conduct. Nearly a month later, she was dismissed.
In her legal filing, the former executive said she suffers from long COVID and menopausal symptoms, which include memory lapses and cognitive issues. She claimed that if the alleged remarks had actually been made, they could have been a result of her health challenges and not her intention to offend. The 55-year-old also argued that her firing ignored her 12 years of dedicated service and failed to consider her medical condition.
She maintains that she was “shocked” by the accusations and could not recall the specific comments. The legal complaint suggests her health conditions were used unfairly against her during the disciplinary process.
Citi, however, has defended its actions. The bank stated that the internal investigation into the matter was thorough and impartial.
According to legal representatives of the firm her health conditions did not justify or contribute to the alleged conduct, and the termination decision was in line with company policy.
