Michael Berner heads the Consumer Lending business of Citi in Russia and is responsible for the bank’s lending products for the retail customers: credit cards, personal loans, mortgages and overdrafts. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of ZAO Citibank. Prior to his current position, Michael served as Head of the Credit Cards Division and was responsible for determining the business strategy and financial results of this business. Under his leadership, the department launched in November 2009 new cobranded bank cards with MTS – the largest mobile operator in Central and Eastern Europe – as well as a joint project with Neste – the leading gas stations chain in St. Petersburg. From 2005 to 2006, Michael Berner worked in the regional office of Citi in London, where he oversaw the development of channels for distributing credit cards in 24 countries in the EMEA region. Michael joined Citibank in early 2003, when he became one of the first members of the team charged with launching the credit card business in Russia. Beginning as head of Credit Card Marketing, in July 2004 he became head of the bank’s Marketing Department