The appointment bolsters the bank’s ability to serve the unique financial needs of professional teams, leagues, athletes, industry professionals and businesses across the world of sports

LOS ANGELES, March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — City National Bank today announced the appointment of Anthony Di Santi as Managing Director, Head of Corporate Sports Banking. Di Santi will lead the Bank’s strategic focus on serving the needs of professional teams, leagues, businesses and corporate partners throughout the sports industry.

Di Santi brings more than 30 years of experience and a proven track record of success across the global sports industry, having served as Global Managing Director and Global Industry Lead for Citi’s Sports Investment Banking unit for more than 24 years. Over the course of his career, Di Santi has:

• Advised on more than 75 M&A transactions involving professional sports franchises across the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), National Football League (NFL) and more
• Structured debt instruments for over 70 professional sports teams, including innovative financing solutions for stadium and arena development projects
• Led the structuring and funding of a $2.5 billion NHL-wide line of credit, working with over 30 banks and insurance companies
• Counseled rights holders on regional, national and international television contracts with major telecasters, as well as other matters related to naming rights, sponsorship agreements, seat licenses and related arrangements for stadiums and arenas
• Been recognized by Worth Magazine as one of the top 50 most powerful people in sports

Di Santi’s appointment builds on City National’s strong history of serving the needs of professional athletes, their businesses and their trusted advisors with its expertise in Corporate Banking.

“We are thrilled to welcome Anthony to City National Bank,” said Jahan Wang, executive vice president and head of entertainment & sports banking at City National Bank. “With his extensive expertise in sports finance and advisory services, along with his deep-rooted industry relationships across leagues, teams and governing bodies, he will be a driving force in expanding our presence and influence in this space.”

“I’ve had the privilege of supporting almost every facet of the global sports industry in its sustainable, long-term growth over the course of my career,” said Di Santi. “I am excited to join City National Bank, a long-time valued partner to the entertainment and sports industries, and look forward to helping our clients navigate this dynamic, evolving marketplace.”  

About Anthony P. Di Santi

Anthony P. Di Santi is a Managing Director and Head of Corporate Sports Banking at City National Bank. In this role, he advises prospective and existing team owners and leagues in the U.S. on strategic transactions, including franchise purchases and sales, capital raises, media rights and the structuring of secured lending facilities and infrastructure projects. Di Santi has spent his entire career counseling the global sports industry, most recently serving as Managing Partner at Echelon Sports Capital Partners and Managing General Partner at Raptor Sports Capital. He started his career at Citi, where he spent more than 24 years in leadership roles of increasing responsibility and ultimately served as Global Managing Director and Global Industry Lead for Citi’s Sports Investment Banking unit. Di Santi graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance and played on their varsity baseball team.

About City National

City National Bank, a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada, is the largest bank headquartered in Los Angeles with $90 billion in assets as of January 31, 2025. Founded in 1954, City National provides personalized banking, investment and trust services in select markets including Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Nashville, Atlanta, Delaware, Las Vegas, Washington D.C. and Miami. In addition, the company and its investment affiliates manage or administer $103 billion in client investment assets. City National is dedicated to strengthening communities, and in 2024 alone, the company donated nearly $10 million in charitable contributions to nonprofits that support the communities it serves.

For more information about City National, visit the company’s website at cnb.com.

City National Bank Member FDIC. City National Bank is a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada. *City National Bank does business in Miami and the state of Florida as CN Bank.

©2025 City National Bank. All Rights Reserved. cnb.com® is a registered trademark of City National Bank.

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SOURCE City National Bank