Gaines Earns Diners Presidency

<B> Gaines Earns Diners Presidency</B>

Corporate card sales executive Brenda Gaines last week was promoted to president of Citicorp Diners Club's U.S. division and earned a seat on the Diners Club International global board.

With the promotion, Diners Club fills a position that's been vacant since May 1996, when parent Citicorp ousted president and CEO Robert Rosseau (<I>BTN,</I> June 10, 1996) after he filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission against Visa International. Visa and its largest issuer were on much happier terms then, in sharp contrast to the more fractious relationship today. Citicorp recently severed some ties with Visa, opting to push their brands, presumably including Diners, as much as possible.

Citicorp replaced Rosseau as CEO with veteran banker William Friesell, chairman of the DCI board since 1996, but not as president of its U.S. operation until now.

Most recently executive vice president of corporate card sales, Gaines joined Diners Club in 1992 after four years with parent Citibank. She'll now report to Friesell.

"Brenda is totally customer-driven, knows the business and is highly respected in both the financial services and travel industries," Friesell said.

Gaines is expected to continue focusing on serving Diners' multinational clientele.