diff --git a/app/Helper/User.php b/app/Helper/User.php
index 1cad60426..c1fff8c63 100644
--- a/app/Helper/User.php
+++ b/app/Helper/User.php
@@ -10,6 +10,24 @@ namespace Helper;
  */
 class User extends \Core\Base
 {
+    /**
+     * Get initials from a user
+     *
+     * @access public
+     * @param  string  $name
+     * @return string
+     */
+    public function getInitials($name)
+    {
+        $initials = '';
+
+        foreach (explode(' ', $name) as $string) {
+            $initials .= mb_substr($string, 0, 1);
+        }
+
+        return mb_strtoupper($initials);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Get user id
      *
diff --git a/app/Template/board/task_private.php b/app/Template/board/task_private.php
index 3cd471d72..48e931c9e 100644
--- a/app/Template/board/task_private.php
+++ b/app/Template/board/task_private.php
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@
     <?= $this->render('board/task_menu', array('task' => $task)) ?>
 
     <div class="task-board-collapsed" style="display: none">
+        <?php if (! empty($task['assignee_username'])): ?>
+            <span title="<?= $this->e($task['assignee_name'] ?: $task['assignee_username']) ?>">
+                <?= $this->e($this->user->getInitials($task['assignee_name'] ?: $task['assignee_username'])) ?>
+            </span> -
+        <?php endif ?>
         <?= $this->url->link($this->e($task['title']), 'task', 'show', array('task_id' => $task['id'], 'project_id' => $task['project_id']), false, 'task-board-collapsed-title') ?>
     </div>
 
diff --git a/tests/units/UserHelperTest.php b/tests/units/UserHelperTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..749380c64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/units/UserHelperTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<?php
+
+require_once __DIR__.'/Base.php';
+
+use Helper\User;
+
+class UserHelperTest extends Base
+{
+    public function testInitials()
+    {
+        $h = new User($this->container);
+
+        $this->assertEquals('CN', $h->getInitials('chuck norris'));
+        $this->assertEquals('A', $h->getInitials('admin'));
+        $this->assertEquals('漢', $h->getInitials('漢字'));
+    }
+}