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We’re getting to know Terry O’Neil, managing director and head of connected commerce and strategic growth at Citi Retail Services.
How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? Citi Retail Services provides payment solutions to some of the largest retail brands in the US. We are the company behind many of the co-brand and private-label credit cards you see when you are checking out at your favorite retailer (think The Home Depot, Macy’s, etc.) and we have been doing this for more than 30 years. In my role specifically, I’m charged with building and launching Citi Retail Services’s expansion strategies related to point-of-sale lending which include bringing new products to market—like Citi Pay Credit, a digital-only credit card—and other flexible payment methods.
One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? Throughout my career my roles have been intrapreneurial in nature—working to build new capabilities and businesses within large, well-established financial service leaders. These roles have required me to navigate internal and external partnerships to identify pathways which drive enhanced value for consumers and revenue growth.
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? While it is difficult to choose one, I am most excited about the work I am doing now to build Citi Pay, Citi’s embedded payment solution that gives participating retailers the ability to offer their customers access to more payment flexibility. It builds upon our legacy of proudly serving our retail partners’ payment needs with an entirely new suite of products and capabilities.
Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about right now, and why? The ongoing evolution of embedded payments is something I’m excited about because I’m especially fascinated by how much of it is being driven by consumer demand. These days, consumers expect more from the retailers they shop with. Beyond wanting seamless checkout experiences, they want even more payment flexibility. This demand for more freedom and control around how they pay is translating into new or more payment products being offered by retailers.
What’s your go-to coffee order? Triple oat milk latte, usually from Blue Bottle Coffee.
Worst piece of advice you’ve received? “Go with the flow.” I never took that advice because I have found that some of the best opportunities present themselves when you share your unique perspective. With that, I subscribe to the adage from Albert Einstein: “Be a voice, not an echo.”
What was your favorite retail product when you were 15, and what’s your favorite retail product now? When I was 15, my favorite retail product was my first Apple computer, which I mostly used for gaming and then schoolwork as I got older. My favorite retail products now are my iPhone and AirPods—I can’t live without them!