CEO Congratulates Employees for Trouncing the Competition (Insider Comms From Citadel)

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Nick Offerman plays Citadel CEO Ken Griffin in Dumb Money (2023)

Here’s a change of pace: an executive memo about good news.

Last year Citadel brought in so much money the hedge fund doubled its lead over the nearest competition.

• The record year lifted Citadel’s all-time gains to $74 billion, nearly $20 billion more than its rivals D.E. Shaw and Millennium. Imagine working for a company that so obviously dominates your rivals.

Founder and CEO Ken Griffin was gleeful, sending a congratulatory note to employees with the chest-thumping subject line: “Citadel Widens Lead as Most Profitable Hedge Fund of All Time.” (Read it below.)

• Compare Griffin’s memo to that of Sony's chief (🔒) cheering on employees during a rough patch.

• Unlike Sony, Citadel is celebrating from a position of strength.

• Insider Comms is a series that shows how other corporate comms professionals communicate with their audiences—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Citadel’s memo has several things going for it. Griffin:

• Keeps it short, just 133 words.

• Emphasizes key metrics to show how impressive the achievement is.

• Acknowledges the difficulties faced over the year.

• Expresses gratitude for everyone’s contributions.

• Offers a forward-looking cheer, motivating employees to achieve future goals.

• Avoids singling out a team. All employees contributed to the success, even if one team or department made a pivotal breakthrough.

What could make the memo better? Here are five ideas: