Partner Perspectives: CIBC

The OLIP interns enjoyed an informative discussion with our esteemed partner, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), and met with Alex Phillips, Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, and Chad Schella, Vice-President of Government Relations.

Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce serves approximately 15 million clients worldwide, with operations ranging across the United States, the Caribbean, Asia, and Europe. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet with one of the country's largest and most prominent banks, and learn further about the inner workings and history of its establishment.

Over the course of our conversation, we dove into the nuances of banking, both in relation to CIBC directly, as well as subsidiaries and foreign branches. Specifically, we explored how government relations operate semi-autonomously across North American, European, and Asian offices, as well as the interplay of different markets. We appreciated Alex and Chad’s nuanced conceptualizations, as well as their insights into navigating both the field of investment banking and capital markets, as well as furthering a career in this arena.

Concluding this incredible session, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Alex and Chad, as well as CIBC as a whole, for their continued support of our programme!