His abrasive manner and imposing physique can be intimidating, but if John Havens, 52, comes across as one of Wall Street’s hard men, he is also by most accounts an inspiring leader and talented manager — just what Citigroup’s investment banking arm so desperately needs.
Along with his boss, CEO Vikram Pandit, Havens joined Citi in 2007 when it bought the hedge fund they’d formed after leaving Morgan Stanley. The one-time convertibles trader is in charge of securities, advisory and alternatives activities that generated $11.6 billion in net income in the first three quarters of 2009, keeping Citi in the black despite big losses on toxic assets and in consumer lending. As Pandit seeks to get the bank back on its feet, no one is more pivotal to the effort than Havens.
