Dodig recognized for championing women in business and promoting inclusive workplaces
TORONTO, June 28, 2017 /CNW/ - CIBC (TSX: CM) (NYSE: CM) is pleased to celebrate that Victor Dodig, President and CEO, CIBC, has been named a 2017 Catalyst Canada Honours Company/Firm Leader Champion in recognition of his commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Mr. Dodig's passionate commitment to championing women in executive roles and on corporate boards and building and fostering inclusive workplaces will be acknowledged at the 2017 Catalyst Canada Honours Dinner on November 6, 2017 in Toronto.
"Victor exemplifies what it means to be an inclusive leader who sees the value in diversity not only at CIBC but in Canadian business," says the Honourable John P. Manley, Chair of the Board, CIBC. "He's motivated by the fact that diversity is an economic imperative because it leads to better decision making, stronger financial performance, and increased innovation. He understands that it's in every organization's and every nation's best economic interest to fully utilize and optimize the talents of all its citizens – an underpinning theme in the work he does at CIBC, as Chair of the 30% Club Canada and as a member of the Catalyst Canada Advisory Board."
In 2014, as CIBC's new President and CEO, Mr. Dodig launched a global gender diversity and inclusion strategy strengthening the bank's commitment to building gender balanced leadership teams. He formed the CIBC Gender Action Committee and publicly disclosed a goal to achieve at least 30-35 percent women in executive roles by the end of 2018. By 2016, under Mr. Dodig's leadership, CIBC surpassed its goal two years early.
Mr. Dodig is personally committed to gender diversity, mentoring and sponsoring talented women through his recent work with Catalyst's Women on Board program, participation in the #GoSponsorHer challenge, and launching a sponsorship challenge at the bank within various business units.
"I am deeply privileged to be receiving this honour from Catalyst. Gender diversity is not a women's issue – it's a human issue. Creating opportunities and empowering not just women, but persons with disabilities and under-represented groups in the workplace, is extremely important to me personally, and to the health and future of our economy," says Mr. Dodig. "I'm proud to lead an organization like CIBC that has achieved a number of historic firsts in the field of diversity and inclusion and that continues to encourage and embrace its importance."
Since being appointed Chair of the 30% Club Canada in 2015 and becoming a member of the Catalyst Canada Advisory Board, Dodig has created a strong sense of accountability for himself, its members and Corporate Canada to reach the group's goal of 30 per cent of board seats and C-suites to be held by women by 2019.
"Victor's commitment to supporting Catalyst, and bringing other business leaders to the table to accelerate the advancement of women and inclusive workplaces has been transformative," says Tanya van Biesen, Executive Director, Catalyst Canada. "He sets the gold standard for leadership and action in corporate Canada."
For more information on CIBC's commitment to Diversity and Inclusion, visit: http://corporateresponsibilityreport.cibc.com/diversity-and-inclusion.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. Ongoing news releases and more information about CIBC can be found at www.cibc.com/ca/media-centre/ or by following on Twitter @CIBC, Facebook (www.facebook.com/CIBC) and Instagram @CIBCNow.
SOURCE CIBC
