Could Social Network Lead to Merger Between Citigroup and JPMorgan?

Analysts have been having some fun lately with by coming up with hypothetical mergers between major corporate rivals (see November 28 article from NewsVisual). A potential deal that is generating some serious buzz would bring Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase together (see article from BloggingStocks). The consensus seems to be that while a merger between the companies would be complicated given the size of Citi and JPMorgan, a partnership could bring about considerable positive results. NewsVisual decided to take a look at how common connections could become a factor in bringing the two together (Note: the information contained and presented in Knowledge Maps is public information from the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America).

An initial mapping of the common ties between the past and present Directors and Senior Executives at either company led to numerous relationships. After narrowing the search to include only those relationships held by current senior leaders at either company, a number of strong connections are brought to the surface:

• James Dimon (Chairman/CEO of JPMorgan) is the former head of Citi
• Sallie Krawcheck (Head of Citi Global Wealth Management) and William H Gray III (Director at JPMorgan) are both Directors at Dell
• Stephen R Volk (Vice Chair at Citi) and Ellen V Futter (Director at JPMorgan) are both Directors at conEdison Inc

The Knowledge Map also reveals significant connections through CBS, Johnson & Johnson and Travelers, with a notable link involving recently retired Citi Chairman/CEO Charles Prince.

The leadership teams at either company are clearly well connected, both through direct ties and affiliations with other entities. If a partnership is in the cards for Citi and JPMorgan, the social network they share may certainly prove useful in forming a deal.