"Jim is a strong believer in a client-focused wealth management and consulting process and has without a doubt demonstrated exceptional leadership skills within the fee-based business," said Paul Hatch, director of Investment Advisory Services. "We believe he will be successful in moving forward one of the largest and fastest growing businesses within our industry," he added. Mr. Tracy will report to Hatch.
Mr. Tracy has more than 20 years of financial services industry experience with 17 years served at Smith Barney. In his prior role as director of the firm's Great Lakes region, the area ranked number one in fee-based assets.
Phil Shaffer, senior vice president-investments and a leading senior institutional consultant at Smith Barney, commented, "First and foremost, Jim is a great leader. He is a visionary and most capable of helping others turn big picture ideas into reality. Jim thinks outside of the box to get things done and has a deep understanding and significant appreciation for the Consulting Group process."
A graduate of Marietta College with a bachelor's of administration in accounting and management, Mr. Tracy has served as a member of the college's Athletics Founders Board and is actively involved in the Special Olympics Organization and other civic and community projects.
Smith Barney's Consulting Group is an industry leader in investment management consulting, managed money products and services. Founded in 1973, the Consulting Group works with Smith Barney financial advisers and their clients, both institutional and individual, to develop customized investment, economic and asset allocation strategies based on their individual financial objectives. A hallmark of the Consulting Group's products and services is its research process. Consulting Group's research professionals continually evaluate and offer proprietary investment opinions of some of the world's most recognized investment management firms, enabling clients to make thoughtful and informed investment decisions. Additional information may be found at: www.smithbarney.com/consulting.
Citigroup (NYSE: C), the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, insurance, securities brokerage, and asset management. Major brand names under Citigroup's trademark red umbrella include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Smith Barney and Banamex. Additional information may be found at: www.citigroup.com.
© 2005 Business Wire
