Driss Temsamani
Driss R. Temsamani | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1966 Tangier, Morocco |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, author, keynote speaker |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Known for | Head of Digital for the Americas at Citigroup; digital banking; financial technology; digital transformation; diaspora advocacy |
Driss R. Temsamani (; born 1966) is a prominent American banker, author, and keynote speaker with a focus on financial technology and digital transformation. He commenced his professional journey at Citigroup in 1995 and currently holds the position of Managing Director, acting as the Head of Digital for the Americas. In this capacity, he manages digital banking operations throughout the American continents.
Temsamani has earned recognition for his partnerships with central banks and regulatory bodies to influence policies related to digital finance, financial inclusion, blockchain technology, digital assets, and artificial intelligence. His proficiency in digital transformation has positioned him as an influential voice in international financial policy debates.
Citigroup career
Temsamani entered Citigroup in 1995 as a Senior Consultant after serving as Operations Director at Telemundo between 1993 and 1995. Prior to that, he gained experience working with Globe Magazine and Worldcare International Insurance.
Over his tenure at Citigroup since 1994, he has occupied several senior leadership positions including Head of Commercial Banking for Latin America (2017–2021), Head of Innovation (2012–2017), Head of Marketing & Market Management (2008–2012), Business Management Lead (2002–2008), and Chief Information Officer for e-Business (2000–2002). In these capacities, Temsamani spearheaded the creation of digital banking platforms, implemented data-centric financial strategies, and enhanced technology-driven operational efficiencies throughout Latin America.
Presently, as Managing Director and Americas Head of Digital at Citigroup, he directs digital product lines and business initiatives across North and Latin America. His key priorities encompass modernizing financial markets, leveraging blockchain solutions, and integrating AI technologies within banking services. He collaborates extensively with central banks, regulators, and industry stakeholders to foster digital innovation and expand financial inclusion.
Membership and organizations
Driss Temsamani is actively involved in entities that promote entrepreneurship, education, and technological advancement. He holds a seat on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement Americas.
He participates in the U.S. State Department’s Global Entrepreneurship Program, which champions worldwide innovation and economic progress. Furthermore, Temsamani contributes to the Aspen Institute’s Partners for a New Beginning, an initiative aimed at strengthening economic and social ties between the United States and North African nations.
Diaspora advocacy
Temsamani is a strong advocate for Moroccan diaspora communities within the United States, emphasizing education, civic participation, and economic empowerment. He has established and supported numerous nonprofit organizations and policy efforts to enhance the social, political, and economic visibility of Moroccan Americans on international platforms.
In 2002, he created ElKarya, recognized as the first social network in Moroccan Arabic (Darija), designed to connect Moroccan expatriates across North America through cultural engagement and professional networking.
Since 2008, Temsamani has been serving as president and Board Director of the Moroccan American Coalition. In 2009, he founded the Moroccan Americans for Fritchey Movement. Additionally, he is the Founder and President of the 361 Degrees Institute, a U.S.-based Moroccan American think tank dedicated to demographic studies and development initiatives. In 2012, he launched the Maghreb Growth Foundation, which supports financial programs targeting young Moroccan entrepreneurs.
Diplomatic and community engagement
Temsamani has been actively involved in U.S. government programs aimed at enhancing entrepreneurship and economic growth within the Maghreb region. As a participant in the Global Entrepreneurship Program initiated by the U.S. State Department, he represented President Barack Obama’s initiatives focused on socioeconomic development in the Maghreb. In this capacity, he worked closely with government officials and business executives to encourage entrepreneurial expansion and reinforce economic partnerships between the United States and North Africa. Additionally, Temsamani delivered remarks at the White House addressing topics such as diaspora involvement, economic empowerment, and the relationship between Morocco and the U.S.
Authorship, lecturing & media appearances
Temsamani is an author specializing in subjects like finance, digital innovation, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, and financial inclusion. In 2005, he became among the first Moroccan Americans to publish a book in the United States with Rewind, a dramatic narrative exploring the human quest for happiness beyond one's homeland.
During the early 2000s, Temsamani gave lectures on marketing strategy and digital engagement, emphasizing branding, customer interaction, and digital approaches through talks such as DNA Marketing and The Art of Marketing. He also presented at COMDEX on how the Second Wave of the Internet influenced financial services and digital transformation.
He has since been a speaker at various industry forums discussing AI applications in treasury and finance, blockchain and digital assets within banking, cryptocurrency’s impact on financial inclusion, and regulatory developments in fintech. Temsamani has appeared in numerous print and broadcast interviews across different languages to discuss digital transformation and innovations in finance. His media engagements include CNN, where he addressed digital payments and financial inclusion; Peru’s El Comercio, focusing on tokenization and asset digitization; Costa Rica’s La República, analyzing fintech’s influence on financial markets; as well as El Dinero, covering Citigroup’s advancements toward fully digital corporate banking.
In 2023, Temsamani participated in a Bloomberg panel centered on cryptocurrencies, exploring blockchain technology, digital assets, and regulatory issues. He also spoke at the America Digital Congress about asset tokenization and digital transformation within the banking industry. His research concentrates on leveraging technology to improve access to financial services and promote inclusion.
Awards and recognition
Driss Temsamani has been honored with several awards acknowledging his contributions to digital banking, financial innovation, and marketing. He was awarded The Jerry Goldenberg First Place Award for direct marketing in 2002 and received The Strathmore Who's Who Leadership Millennium Award in 2000. In 1999, he earned the Visionary of the Year title from Compaq.
Citi Digital Banking Awards
Under Temsamani’s guidance, Citi has achieved multiple accolades throughout Latin America and North America for advancements in digital banking. In 2022, Citi was recognized as the World’s Best Digital Bank by Global Finance Magazine, marking its 22nd year of consecutive honors.
In 2023, Citi secured The Banker’s awards for Innovation in Digital Banking and Technology Projects of the Year, showcasing its leadership in banking technology innovation.
In 2024, Citi was once again named World’s Best Digital Bank by Euromoney, reflecting its ongoing commitment to pioneering digital banking solutions.
In March 2025, Temsamani received the Golden Prize (Premio de Oro) for "Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies" as Americas Head of Digital Citi - Treasury and Trade Solutions.
Personal life
Temsamani was born in Tangier and is the grandson of General Driss Riffi Temsamani, who once served as the Pasha of the Rif Republic and various other Moroccan territories. After encountering difficulties in his studies and nearly enrolling in a military academy, he moved to the United States in 1986 at the age of 17, arriving with only $200 and limited proficiency in English. While working, he attended evening classes to improve his language skills and studied electronics, where he had his initial exposure to computers.
He later advanced his education in business, obtaining an MBA from Ohio State University, completing an Executive MBA focused on Industrial marketing at IAE Universidad Austral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and undertaking Executive Leadership programs at Harvard.
Temsamani now lives in Miami, Florida with his spouse.