Citi's annual review process is kicking off. Here's an inside look at its unpopular method.

Citi; Chelsea Jia feng/BI

• Citi rates its 200,000 employees on a forced curve that assesses peers from best to worst.
• These rankings influence who gets promoted and who loses their bonus — or worse.
• Managing directors told BI how the process works and why it can pit employees against each other.

Citigroup welcomed 344 new managing directors earlier this month, marking its biggest class in years. Behind the scenes, the promotion process can be political and fraught...