Robert A. Annibale - Global Director of Microfinance for Citigroup

As Citigroup's Global Director of Microfinance, Bob Annibale is leading figure in the world of micro-credit, a means of advancing financial assistance to, and encouraging economic development among the world's poorest communities.

Born and brought up in New York, he gained a degree in History and Political Science from Vassar College followed by a Masters in African History from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

He joined Citibank in 1982 and has held a number of senior treasury, risk and corporate positions, living and working in Athens, Bahrain, Nairobi, London and New York. As the organization's in-house micro-credit expert, he represents Citigroup on the Microfinance Network - a global association of microfinance institutions - as well as the Board of the Microfinance Information Exchange and the Council of Microfinance Equity Funds. He also represents the company on a number of community and regeneration boards in London.

In addition to his financial expertise he also has extensive experience in academic and governmental circles, serving on the UK Government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office Africa Policy Group, and the Boards of the University of London, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies and Oxford University's St. Anthony's College (Centre for the Study of African Economies).