As the Senior Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Citi, Suleman oversees the recruitment strategy and delivery for Citi’s Banking and International business across EMEA and APAC. Since joining Citi in January 2022, he has played a pivotal role in leading the firm’s talent and strategic initiatives, following a successful tenure as Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Qatar Airways.
With more than 20 years of experience across the Middle East and Europe, Suleman brings deep expertise in the airline, aviation, and financial services sectors. He has a proven track record of leading global teams to attract and secure top talent while partnering strategically with business leaders to drive organisational success.
What’s a recent professional achievement of yours that you are proud of?
One of my recent professional achievements that I’m particularly proud of has been leading a global talent acquisition team across multiple countries to effectively support key business areas in a highly cost-efficient way. We’ve significantly reduced agency spend while improving the overall quality of hire through the implementation of strategic sourcing initiatives and a more data-driven recruitment approach.
In addition, over the past 18 months, the team has achieved outstanding success in our Emiratization drive—hiring UAE Nationals into critical roles in line with the UAE Central Bank’s requirements. This has not only strengthened our local talent pipeline but also reinforced our commitment to nationalisation and long-term workforce sustainability.
What is your prediction for the future of the TA industry?
The future of the TA industry will be defined by a blend of technology, data intelligence, and human connection. As organisations continue to evolve, TA functions will move further toward strategic talent advisory roles, leveraging advanced analytics, AI, and automation to make smarter, faster, and more inclusive hiring decisions.
What projects are you planning on working on in 2026?
1. Emiratization hiring and strategy
2. Further implementation of AI across sourcing tools