Citadel Says It Will Move Offices to Miami Because of Crime in Chicago

Mr. Ahmed, the Citadel spokesman, said, “In Chicago alone, Ken has donated more than $600 million to educational, cultural, medical and civic organizations.”

Mr. Griffin gave roughly $21.5 million through March to groups supporting the election of Republican candidates around the country during the 2022 election cycle, according to Open Secrets. He is among the biggest supporters of Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a Republican, according to Open Secrets.

Mr. Griffin founded Citadel in Chicago in 1990 and, alongside his partners, Citadel Securities in 2002. Combined, the two firms employ more than 1,000 people in Illinois. Globally, they employ 4,000 professionals across 17 offices.

Citadel told employees that the firm’s new headquarters would be in Brickell, Miami’s financial district, and that the move was expected to take several years. Some employees of Citadel Securities have already begun to work out of temporary offices in the city, and employees of Citadel will soon follow.

Mr. Griffin, who was born in Daytona Beach, Fla., and grew up in Boca Raton, Fla., will move to Miami as well.

In the memo to employees, he recalled the welcome he got in Chicago when he started his firm. “I still remember the incredible civic pride and engagement when I arrived more than 30 years ago — and the outreach by business and political leaders who wanted us to succeed and be a part of the fabric of Chicago’s community,” he wrote.

The announcement was celebrated by Mayor Francis Suarez of Miami, who offered Mr. Griffin a “warm Miami welcome.” Mr. Suarez has courted big business since his election in November 2017, and many companies have taken advantage of Florida’s lack of state and local income taxes. Among those that have moved offices there are the hedge fund Elliott Management and the private equity firm Blackstone.