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CIBC named one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers for sixth straight year

Mentor Pradeep Mathur and para-kayaker Suleiman Muse reflect CIBC's inclusive culture

TORONTO, Feb. 29, 2016 /CNW/ - For the sixth year in a row, CIBC (TSX: CM) (NYSE: CM) has been named one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers for seeking out and embracing diversity in the workplace. This allows CIBC to attract and retain talent, like Pradeep Mathur and Suleiman Muse, and keep it an industry leader in innovation.

Pradeep, an émigré from India, joined CIBC in its risk management group seven years ago. He is one of the bank's more than 440 team members who mentor skilled immigrants transitioning to their new life in Canada. Last year, he received CIBC's Diversity & Inclusion Employee Award for his exceptional contributions promoting diversity and inclusion in and out of the workplace.

Suleiman, a corporate services helpdesk analyst originally from Somalia, has been with the bank for the past decade. He is also an elite para-kayaker, who represents Canada in competitions all over the world. Suleiman is a member of CIBC's "WorkAbility Network" for employees with disabilities. He was one of more than 60 network members who served as brand ambassadors during the bank's sponsorship of last year's TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, working to change perceptions of disability in society.

The Workability Network is one of nine employee affinity groups, including the International Professionals Network (IPN) for employees who are new to Canada, that help foster a welcoming and respectful workplace environment where individual talents and differences are valued. The IPN is another first in the Canadian banking industry. 

"It really comes down to the actions of each individual that helps shape our culture," says Laura Dottori-Attanasio, CIBC's Chief Risk Officer and Diversity & Inclusion Executive Champion. "At CIBC, we not only embrace and celebrate diversity, we look to break unconscious biases both in our workplace and in our communities. In our view, building a talented team enables us  to provide our clients with the best ideas and innovation that makes banking easy, personalized and flexible."

Canada's Best Diversity Employers is an annual competition by Mediacorp Inc. to find the nation's leading companies who promote workplace inclusiveness and diversity. In recognizing CIBC with this award, the editors of Mediacorp lauded the bank for the following initiatives:

  • Recognizing individuals and teams that promote diversity both internally and externally through the Diversity Champion Award and the Team Impact Award;
  • Supporting "WorkAbility," an employee network for persons with disabilities; and
  • Partnering with national Aboriginal employment organizations to develop "Pathways to Opportunity," a program to assist Aboriginal peoples with their career search.

The bank has also been recognized as:

  • One of Canada's Top Employers for Young People, Greater Toronto's Top Employers  and Canada's Top 100 Employers by Mediacorp;
  • One of Canada's Best 50 Corporate Citizens by Corporate Knights;
  • One of the Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations by Maclean's magazine and Sustainalytics;
  • One of the Best Workplaces in Canada by the Great Place to Work Institute®; and
  • One of the 50 Most Engaged Workplaces™ in Canada by Achievers.

To learn more about diversity at CIBC, please visit https://www.cibc.com/ca/inside-cibc/careers/equity-and-diversity/diversity-statement.html

About CIBC
CIBC is a leading Canadian-based global financial institution with 11 million personal banking and business clients. Through our three major business units - Retail and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Capital Markets - CIBC offers a full range of products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking network, branches and offices across Canada with offices in the United States and around the world. You can find other news releases and information about CIBC in our Media Centre on our corporate website at www.cibc.com.

SOURCE Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

For further information:

Caroline Van Hasselt, Director, External Communications, 416-784-6699 or caroline.vanhasselt@cibc.com

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