Robert B. Willumstad

Robert B. Willumstad is a former Chairman and CEO of the American International Group (AIG).

He was born in Brooklyn and grew up on Long Island. His alma mater is Adelphi University. He and his wife Carol reside in New York City, and have two adult daughters and two grandchildren.

Under Sanford I. Weill, Willumstad helped to steer the 1998 merger of Travelers Group and Citicorp. From 2000 to 2003, he was the Chairman and CEO of Citigroup's Global Consumer Group. He was named President of Citigroup in 2002, and assumed the post of Chief Operating Officer in 2003, while continuing to serve as CEO and President of Citibank North America. [cite press release |title= Robert B. Willumstad, President and COO of Citigroup, Inc., to Receive Honorary Degree from Adelphi University at 109th Commencement, May 15, 2005 |url= http://events.adelphi.edu/news/2005/20050426b.php |publisher= Adelphi University |date=2005-04-26 |accessdate=2008-09-16] Some suggested that he had been passed over for CEO in favour of Charles Prince, despite being in charge of Citi's largest business. [ [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-23930694_ITM] ] [ [http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/banking/2005-07-14-citigroup-president_x.htm] ]

Willumstad left Citigroup in July 2005, saying that he wanted to run a major company, after CEO Charles Prince decided to take back control of operations.cite news |first= |last= |author= AP |coauthors= |title= AIG's new CEO Robert Willumstad gets his big break in a tough climate |url= http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/16/business/NA-FIN-US-AIG-CEO.php |work= International Herald Tribune |publisher= |date=2008-06-16 |accessdate=2008-09-16 ]

Willumstad founded Brysam Global Partners, a specialized private equity firm that invests in financial services, in 2007 with partner Marge Magner. [ [http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/robert-lipp-joins-brysam-global/story.aspx?guid={6864E76E-9D81-43A2-865A-DEB850E90ED0}] ]

Willumstad served as the chairman of the board of directors of AIG from 2006 until 2008, after Maurice R. Greenberg was forced to resign. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Robert Willumstad elected as new AIG chairman |url= http://www.insurance-business-review.com/article_news.asp?guid=DADA59B4-6892-41DD-A9E7-833572B2DB78 |work= Insurance Business Review |publisher= |date=2006-09-20 |accessdate=2008-09-16 ]

Willumstad became CEO on June 15, 2008, after Martin J. Sullivan was ousted. One of Willumstad's initiatives was to repair the rift with Greenberg. [cite news |first= Tom |last= Bawden |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= New AIG chief Robert Willumstad to look at all the options |url= http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article4152038.ece |work= The Times |publisher= |date=2008-06-17 |accessdate=2008-09-16 ] Edward M. Liddy is expected to succeed Willumstad to oversee the company's government-financed asset sale. [cite web | url = http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=al1yqdbt6HGY | title = AIG Gets $85 Billion Fed Loan, Cedes Control to Avert Collapse | publisher = Bloomberg.com | date = 2008-09-16 | accessdate = 2008-09-16] Willumstad refused a $22 million severance payment for his three month's work at AIG [http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/080922/financial_aig_willumstad.html] [ [http://news.muckety.com/2008/09/22/aigs-ex-ceo-willumstad-will-forego-22-million-severance/5171 AIG’s ex-CEO Willumstad to forego $22 million severance] , Muckety via Wall Street Journal, 2008-09-22] since he was never able to enact his strategy. AIG's stock price declined 97% during his short tenure due to preexisting company conditions.

On October 7, 2008, Willumstad testified before the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Capitol Hill regarding the causes and effects of the bailout of AIG. [ [http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=2211 Committee Holds Hearing on the Causes and Effects of the AIG Bailout] Retrieved 2008-10-07] [ [http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20081007101054.pdf Testimony of Robert Willumstad] (PDF} Retrieved 2008-10-07]

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