Our Team
With a passionate team of over one hundred people based across three global offices, Citizen Money is proud to have some of the best minds in the world of finance working towards our vision to reimagine digital banking as we know it, and disrupt an industry that is ripe for change.
Ahmed H Habib
Co-Founder, CEOIn 2023, Ahmed H Habib and his longtime friend Christopher Bailey co-founded Citizen Money, a financial institution driven by their collective aspiration to create a bank beloved by customers globally. As the current CEO, Ahmed spearheads the company’s mission to innovate the banking sector for the modern era. An entrepreneurial spirit with deep roots in the startup ecosystem, Ahmed's prior role as an Entrepreneur in Residence at MSA Markets honed his expertise in FX and CFDs. His background in strategic consulting and investments, combined with a dedication to leveraging technology for problem-solving, propelled him to initiate Citizen Money—seeking to revolutionize a traditional industry poised for transformation.
Christopher Bailey
Co-Founder, COOChristopher Bailey, as a co-founder and the Chief Operating Officer of CitizenMoney, alongside Ahmed H Habib, strives to democratize banking globally. They launched Citizen Money aiming to modernize traditional banking, empowering individuals to manage their finances on their terms. In 2024, Christopher took the role of Chief Operating Officer, leveraging past expertise from esteemed firms such as CMS and McKinsey & Company.
Jessica Petersen
Chief Compliance OfficerJessica Petersen was appointed Chief Compliance Officer of Citizen Money in April 2024. As Chief Compliance Officer, she oversees Citizen Money’s Governance, Compliance, and Anti-Money Laundering Functions. Previously, Jessica Petersen was a compliance officer and general representative at HSBC Australia. In this role, she was responsible for coordinating all regulatory initiatives and oversaw governance efforts of HSBC Bank.
Andre Legnovski
Head of FXAndre Legnovski has been appointed global head of foreign exchange and head of liquidity risk at Citizen Money in February 2024. Andre is an FX veteran, having spent almost 15 years in the FX market, most recently serving as a global head of FX strategy at Easy Forex, leading a team spanning 65 jurisdictions. Andre and his team's motto is to offer the best possible FX rates for our customers when making cross-border payments.
Sadia Irani
Chief Risk OfficerSadia Irani was appointed Chief Risk Office of Citizen Money in January 2024. In her role, she is responsible for Citizen Money’s Risk Management Function and oversees the Mobile Bank’s risk controls. Sadia has previously worked in close liaison with financial regulators across Europe and Asia . She is also a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and Inclusion as well as digitization in banking with a focus on AI, data governance, and Meta-leadership.
Rakib Jewel
Chief Technology OfficerAs the Chief Technology Officer of Citizen Money, Rakib oversees the firm’s Data and Technology divisions, with the important responsibility of bringing data and security together while building the digital bank the world loves to use. With diverse experience in retail, capital markets and strategy consulting, Rakib has always had a passion for data and all things technical. Rakib Jewel join Citizen Money in January 2023 as Chief Technology Officer.
Sara O Neil
Head of MarketingIn January 2024, Sara O'Neil took on the role of Chief Marketing Officer and Public Relations Lead at Citizen Money, steering the global marketing operations. Stationed in Europe with her team of international marketers, she collaborates with the Product, Operations, and Finance departments. Previously, Sara directed marketing teams at MSA and Habibsons Global, mastering a variety of marketing sectors.
Malisa Jacob
Head of Customer SupportMalisa Jacob brings over 14 years of varied professional experience to her role as Head of Customer Operations at Citizen Money, a position she has held since February 2024. Before joining Citizen Money, Malisa advanced through several managerial positions at Habibsons Global from November 2021 to her departure two years later. Today, her leadership ensures her team delivers top-tier customer service at Citizen Money.