Victor Menezes (BTech EE 70 / H8) 

by Ram Kelkar (BTech EE 80 / H2) 

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 
November 3, 1998 

NEW YORK -- Victor J. Menezes is the rarest of corporate creatures: a Citicorp survivor. A 26-year veteran of that company and its notoriously brutal corporate culture, Mr. Menezes this weekend was handed a tough new job as co-head of the global-investment and corporate bank, with Michael A. Carpenter, at the recently formed Citigroup Inc. The move came as part of a surprise restructuring that prompted the departure of Citigroup President -- and onetime heir apparent -- James Dimon.     .......    A native of Pune, India, Mr. Menezes received a degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in 1970 and a master's of science in finance and economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology two years later. He has worked at Citibank ever since. 

Q: What were your first thoughts on learning about your new position ?  

A: Overwhelming ... there is quite a lot to do in terms of bringing these two organizations together. 

Q: What are the most vivid memories you have of your days at IIT Bombay ?  

A: Hostel 8, Powai Lake, gymkhana ... the Debating Society, the first Mood Indigo ... editing Technik and representing IIT in debating ... playing basketball and soccer. We were the first residents of Hostel 8 which was still under construction then. 

Q: What do you value most from your IIT experience ?  

A: A combination of pretty hard work ... rigorous work, and connecting with a variety of people from different backgrounds and cultures.  IIT was clearly an important experience in my life in learning to deal with a variety of people which is critical in the world of business today.  

Q: Where did you earn your first paycheck and how did you celebrate ?  

A: Rs. 2000 a month in Bombay ... I took my parents out for dinner in a Chinese restaurant. 

Q: What were some of the setbacks you had to overcome on the road to success?  

A: Working in a lot of difficult situations ... Hong Kong when the real estate and stock market collapsed, Latin America in the LDC debt crisis, restructuring Citibank's consumer operations in Europe. 

Q: What does your success allow you to do that you couldn't do before?  

A: It gives you the confidence to deal with situations and come up with solutions ... it doesn't set you free since you end up working more !  

Q: How do you relate to other IITians today ?  

A: I am in touch with a variety of them, but not as much as I would like to ... we need to network more. I relate to IIT Bombay people across the board ... I was involved in a lot of extra-curricular activities.  

Q: What message would you send to the IIT Bombay administration ?  

A: IIT has a terrific brand name and reputation and with the alumni doing so well all over the world, it is very important to preserve that ... continuing to invest and produce world-class alumni is what it's all about. 

Q: What do you think are the responsibilities of the alumni?  

A: It is a two-way street ... IIT needs to reach out to the alumni, and the alumni have to show their interest. Most successful philanthropic or funding efforts begin with creating a personal bond between the individual and the institution which then translates to a financial activity. 

Q: Who were the most influential people in your life ?  

A: Dad (Manuel) - he was my inspiration to join IIT and retired as the Chairman of the Indian Railways, Mom (Nina), Tara, my wife, for putting up with me ! And John Reed. 

Q: What's new and interesting in your own family life outside work ? 

A: My eldest daughter just graduated from Harvard and is now working as an equity trader on Wall Street. I have three other children ...  

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