Active partner

The fledgling Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, too, is firmly on Au's radar as offering it opportunities regionally, because the global bank already has long experience of working with multilateral agencies.

Citi has already found itself at the heart of various multilateral collaboration agreements that have helped Chinese companies go global, he said, and has been an active partner in using its huge reach to introduce the yuan, or renminbi, as a currency which is well suited to international use.

China started on its journey to internationalize the currency in 2009, and Citi was right there from the get-go, "starting out in Hong Kong and then quickly expanding our ability to other parts of the world".

It has also managed the selling of dim sum bonds for clients in Hong Kong, as well as arranged seminars to promote the use of the Chinese currency in its offices around the world, advising clients on, among others issues, how best to open and operate a renminbi account to handle trade globally.

"We believe there will be more and more companies using the renminbi. Every multinational will need to have experience in renminbi because I have no doubt it will become a major international currency, much like the US dollar and the euro," he said.

Au describes himself, maybe modestly, as "a relatively serious manager", and said his management philosophy is driven by total trust in his team and knowing how important it is that each member works best together.

"My team members are often closer to the issues than I am, but of course as CEO I am kept informed and up to date."