The appointment is an example of how sports finance is no longer a small business niche for banks but a significant one.

Citi has appointed Jonathan Farley (main picture) as a new head of sports finance and sports lending advisory at its Citi Wealth business.

Farley, who is based in New York, appears to be the replacement for Ivo Voynov, whom this news service interviewed about this part of the bank’s business last year. Voynov moved to join CIBC in September, according to his own LinkedIn profile. Family Wealth Report has asked Citi to confirm whether Farley is a direct replacement for Voynov and will update in due course.

Farley brings more than two decades of experience in lending and financial services, with a track record in sports finance, structured lending, and complex credit solutions. Previously, Farley served in similar roles at sports finance teams of East West Bank and Citizens. Prior to that, he was with Citi for almost 15 years, last as team leader and product manager, Citi Private Bank Sports Finance.

As part of his new role, Farley will lead Citi’s sports lending advisory efforts and partner with the banking, risk, underwriting, product and capital teams.

Sports finance, and the intersections of wealth and sports, are important themes that this news service continues to cover, for example in an interview with Deutsche Bank. (See another interview here.)