TORONTO, Dec. 4 /CNW/ - CIBC (CM: TSX; NYSE) today announced the
appointment of Mr. Charles Sirois as Chair of the Board, effective February
26, 2009 upon his re-election as a director at CIBC's Annual General Meeting
in Vancouver.
    Mr. Sirois, who has been a director of CIBC since 1997, will replace
William A. Etherington, who announced at CIBC's annual meeting last February
he would be stepping down at the next annual meeting after completing five
years as Chair, the term limit. Mr. Etherington is also retiring from the
board, having served 15 years as a CIBC director.
    Mr. Sirois is Chairman and CEO of Telesystem Ltd., a private holding
company of which he is founder and principal shareholder. He is also Chairman
and CEO of Enablis Entrepreneurial Network, a private sector-led and global
non-profit organization that supports entrepreneurs in developing countries
who adopt information and communication technologies as a significant part of
their growth strategy.
    Mr. Sirois is also a director of Cossette Communication Group, FA Capital
Corp. and Gestion ID Capital Inc.