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CIBC Announces Senior Executive Leadership Changes

CIBC announced senior leadership changes to its Group Executive Leadership Team. These changes will position the bank to further leverage its purpose-led and client-focused team and strong North American platform to accelerate execution, building on the bank's strong business performance and clear momentum.

"Across each of our businesses in Canada, the U.S., and globally, the disciplined execution of our strategy and a deep commitment to our clients have driven strong business results across our bank," said Harry Culham, President and CEO of CIBC. "The changes we are announcing today are focused on accelerating our progress as a client-focused, connected, and performance-driven bank that creates value for all our stakeholders."

The following changes are effective May 28, 2026:

Strategic Business Units

These changes will reinforce the connectivity that has become a clear differentiator for CIBC in serving clients across North America and around the world.

Susan Rimmer has been appointed Senior Executive Vice-President and Group Head, Commercial Banking, as she continues to lead Commercial Banking in Canada, and also assumes accountability for Commercial Banking in the U.S., as well as the Office of the CEO (OCEO).

"Susan is recognized for her client-focused approach," said Mr. Culham. "Commercial enterprises are at the heart of economic growth, and we're committed to building on our legacy as the bank of commerce to help these businesses thrive. Bringing together our Commercial Banking business on both sides of the border will further our ability to provide our clients with the solutions, insights, and advice they need to succeed."

Eric Belanger has been appointed Senior Executive Vice-President and Group Head, Wealth Management, as he assumes accountability for Wealth Management in Canada and the U.S., including Global Asset Management, U.S. Private Wealth, Wood Gundy, Private Banking & Family Office, Investor's Edge, and CIBC Private Investment Counsel.

"Eric has spent more than 30 years with our bank in a range of leadership roles and has a strong track record of building innovative solutions, deepening client relationships, and delivering growth," said Mr. Culham. "Aligning our North American Wealth businesses will strengthen connectivity and collaboration as we bring the best of our bank to clients, and support continued growth in Canada and the U.S."

Kevin Li will continue in his role as Senior Executive Vice-President and Group Head, U.S. Region, and President and CEO, CIBC Bank USA.

"Kevin will continue in his current role overseeing our U.S. Region as we leverage our connectivity across businesses to deepen and expand client relationships," said Mr. Culham. "Kevin's exceptional client-focus, relationships across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and his disciplined execution will be invaluable as we further scale our growth in the U.S. across Commercial Banking, Capital Markets, and Wealth Management."

CIBC will have four business segments for financial reporting purposes (in addition to Corporate and Other): Canadian Personal and Business Banking, Commercial Banking, Wealth Management, and Capital Markets. We expect to update our segment reporting in accordance with the new structure in the fourth quarter of 2026 upon completion of supporting changes in our internal management reporting processes, and to provide a restated Supplementary Financial Information package reflecting the new reporting structure prior to the issuance of the bank's Q4 results on December 3, 2026.

Infrastructure Groups

These changes align teams against key priorities, and enable strong execution of the bank's client-focused strategy.

Christina Kramer, Senior Executive Vice-President and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), will transition to the role of Special Advisor and leave the bank on October 31. Christina dedicated her 40-year career to our bank, making significant contributions in leadership roles across Human Resources, Personal and Business Banking, Technology, Operations, and most recently as CAO.

"Across both business and infrastructure leadership roles, Christina has consistently put our clients at the centre of our efforts, and has led key teams across our bank with a collaborative approach to executing on our strategy," said Mr. Culham. "In each of her leadership roles, she has set a high standard for operating with excellence and reflecting our purpose-led, genuinely caring culture. We are a stronger bank today thanks to her contributions."

Amy South has been appointed Senior Executive Vice-President, CAO and Chief of Staff, and will maintain oversight of CIBC Mellon. She will have accountability for Business Enablement and Governance; Brand, Community, Client Experience; Communications; Corporate Security; Enterprise Real Estate; Infrastructure and Modernization; Procurement and Enterprise Projects, and Global Government Relations.

"Amy brings deep experience across client-facing, CAO and Finance roles at our bank," said Mr. Culham. "Her breadth of experience and enterprise perspective will be invaluable as she and her team help to accelerate the execution of our strategy."

In addition, the following leaders continue in their current roles and take on additional accountabilities:

Richard Jardim, Senior Executive Vice-President, Chief Technology and Information Officer, Global Technology, Data and AI, will add responsibility for the Chief Security Office.
Robert Sedran, Senior Executive Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer and Enterprise Strategy, will gain oversight for Enterprise Transformation.
Stephen Scholtz, Executive Vice-President and Global Chief Legal Officer, will expand his mandate to include Corporate Governance and Sustainability.

The following leaders continue in their current roles as part of CIBC's Group Executive Leadership Team:

Yvonne Dimitroff, Executive Vice-President, Chief Human Resources Officer, People, Culture and Talent
Christian Exshaw, Senior Executive Vice-President and Group Head, Capital Markets
Frank Guse, Senior Executive Vice-President and Chief Risk Officer
Hratch Panossian, Senior Executive Vice-President and Group Head, Personal and Business Banking

MidFirst Business Credit Expands Southeast Team

MidFirst Business Credit, a division of MidFirst Bank, the nation’s largest privately owned bank, announced the addition of two senior commercial finance professionals to its growing team. Norb Schmidt and David Ellington join MidFirst Business Credit from Cadence Bank’s Asset Based Lending group and will each be taking on senior roles spanning sales, business development and origination across the Southeastern U.S.

“We are pleased to welcome Norb and David to the MidFirst Business Credit team,” said John Nooney, President of MidFirst Business Credit. “Each of them brings a distinguished track record in asset-based lending and deep relationships across the markets they serve. Their addition reinforces our commitment to building a best-in-class middle market commercial finance platform with a truly national reach.”

Norb Schmidt joins MidFirst Business Credit as Managing Director and National Sales Manager, where he will lead the firm's business development efforts across the United States. Schmidt brings more than 15 years of experience from Cadence Bank, where he led the Cadence Business Finance team, providing customized asset-based financing solutions to middle market companies. Throughout his career, Schmidt has gained broad experience in underwriting and portfolio management across a variety of bank and non-bank platforms. Schmidt is a senior active member of the Secured Finance Network (SFNet), the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) and the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG).

“I have spent my career in asset-based lending because of the difference it makes for mid-sized businesses navigating complex financial situations,” said Schmidt. “MidFirst Business Credit's approach – combining the strength and stability of a large bank with the flexibility of a privately held company’s commitment to client service – is what drew me here. I look forward to helping more middle market companies across the country access the financing they need to grow and adapt to a rapidly changing economic and business environment.”

David Ellington joins as Managing Director and Business Development Officer, responsible for the entire Southeastern market. After joining Cadence Bank in 2019, he held several roles at Cadence Business Finance including Director of Origination and Vice President of Underwriting. He is also President of SFNet’s Emerging Leaders Board and an active member of TMA and ACG.

The appointments deepen MidFirst Business Credit's presence across the eastern United States and reflect the division's strategy of building regionally focused origination teams with national coordination. MidFirst Business Credit provides customized and flexible financing solutions to middle market businesses throughout the United States, combining the capabilities of a major financial institution with the responsiveness and relationship focus of a community bank. The addition of these experienced senior finance executives to MidFirst Business Credit’s existing nationwide asset-based lending franchise builds on MidFirst Bank's broader growth trajectory, which has extended the bank's footprint across California, Colorado, Nevada, Utah and Arizona in recent years.

GA Advisory & Valuation Services Launches CFO Advisory Practice, Appoints Leighton as Managing Director

GA Advisory & Valuation Services, a subsidiary of Great American Holdings ("GA Group"), an industry-leading provider of advisory, valuation, field exam, liquidation, asset-based lending, investment banking, restructuring advisory, and real estate services, and majority-owned by funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. ("Oaktree"), announced the official launch of its new CFO Advisory Practice. To spearhead this strategic expansion, the firm has appointed Kimberly Leighton as Managing Director and leader of the practice.

Leighton joins the leadership team to guide the firm's CFO Advisory Practice, where she will leverage her deep expertise in finance transformation to assist private equity firms and middle-market organizations through complex business transitions. A veteran financial executive, she is recognized for her ability to align high-level strategic vision with operational execution, ensuring finance functions are optimized for scale, risk mitigation, and profitability.

"We are thrilled to welcome Kimberly to the team," said Curt Germany, Senior Managing Director and National Practice Leader for GA Group Financial Advisory Services. "Her extensive experience in driving complex financial transformations will be an incredible asset to our clients navigating the challenges of high-growth environments."

"Bringing Kimberly onboard is a key milestone in the expansion of our platform," said Chad Yutka, Executive Managing Director of GA Advisory & Valuation Services. "As we continue to grow our financial advisory capabilities - from Quality of Earnings and transaction opinions to expert witness and valuation services - her leadership in our CFO Advisory practice strengthens our ability to deliver integrated, strategic support to clients across the full business lifecycle."

Leighton holds a B.B.A. in Finance from Abilene Christian University, a Graduate Finance Certificate from SMU Cox School of Business, and a Business Analytics Certificate from The Wharton School of Business.

SouthStar Capital Delivers $750,000 Working Capital Facility for Texas Environmental Materials Business

SouthStar Capital closed a $750,000 Accounts Receivable financing facility for a Texas-based environmental materials company supporting large-scale heavy civil construction projects throughout the region. Based in Texas, the company specializes in the production and delivery of crushed concrete and sand materials for commercial and infrastructure-related projects.

As the business secured additional opportunities and expanded operations, it required increased working capital to support production, transportation costs, payroll, and ongoing operational expenses tied to a large-scale material supply contract.

SouthStar Capital structured a $750,000 Accounts Receivable financing facility designed to provide flexible access to working capital as the company fulfills a 50,000-ton material order for a major heavy civil construction customer. The facility allows the company to maintain steady cash flow while continuing to support growth and increasing project demand. With this financing in place, the company is well-positioned to continue scaling operations and supporting infrastructure and construction projects throughout the Texas market.

Capteris Closes $14MM Loan for Food and Beverage Manufacturer

Capteris Sponsor Finance announced the funding of a $14 million loan to a sponsor-owned co-manufacturing food and beverage company.

The financing included equipment across multiple production facilities, supporting their growth strategies.

"The sponsor and portfolio company were looking to leverage assets acquired over the past year to free up working capital," said Ben Bakke, managing director, originations. "We provided attractive advance rates and timely closing process to meet their key objectives."

Greenberg Traurig Expands Private Equity Practice with Addition of Xu in New York

Greenberg Traurig continues to grow its Private Equity Practice with the addition of Abigail X. Xu as a shareholder in the New York office. She joins from Paul, Weiss.

Xu will augment Greenberg Traurig's expanding Private Equity Practice, bringing a broad-based practice spanning acquisitions, divestitures, carve-outs, equity investments, and activist defense. She has advised on both buy-side and sell-side transactions across a wide range of industries, including technology, infrastructure, energy, financial services, and insurance.

"Abigail's arrival reflects our continued focus on deepening our corporate Private Equity roster in New York and throughout the world," said Ejim Peter Achi, co-managing shareholder of the firm's New York office and co-chair of its Global Corporate and Private Equity practices. "She brings sophisticated experience across the full lifecycle of strategic transactions and is known for helping clients navigate complex, high-stakes matters with clarity and precision. Her ability to advise both public and private companies, combined with her cross-industry perspective, will further enhance our ability to support clients' evolving needs."

Xu has represented a wide range of companies and private equity sponsors in numerous transactions, including most recently working on Crown Castle's sale of its Fiber Solutions business to Zayo Group Holdings and its Small Cell business to Arium Networks, an EQT Active Core Infrastructure fund, for $8.5 billion; Eaton's acquisition of the Boyd Thermal business of Boyd Corporation for $9.5 billion; and GSK's acquisition of 35Pharma for $950 million.

Xu was drawn to Greenberg Traurig's business-minded approach that prioritizes maximizing value and providing flexibility for clients.

"I'm excited to join Greenberg Traurig and to contribute to the firm's unwavering commitment to top-notch client service and excellence," Xu said. "I admire the group's nimble, business-focused mindset that puts clients first. I look forward to leveraging the firm's impressive global platform and collaborative culture to help clients execute their transactions and achieve their business goals."

Lebowitz Joins Morrison Foerster

Morrison Foerster announced the arrival of Jason Lebowitz as of counsel in the firm’s National Security Group, in Washington, D.C. Lebowitz brings extensive and multifaceted government experience, most recently serving as Senior Counsel in the Office of the Chief Counsel for Industry and Security (OCCIS) at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he advised on complex export control and national security issues, including Section 232 investigations, the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) supply chain matters. Lebowitz’s addition further strengthens the firm’s capabilities in export controls, trade enforcement, and national security matters.

In his role as Senior Counsel at OCCIS, Lebowitz played a significant role in BIS enforcement actions involving the semiconductor manufacturing industry, including matters implicating the de minimis rule and Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR), and has substantial experience drafting charging letters and temporary denial orders, negotiating settlements, coordinating with BIS agents and DOJ prosecutors, and advising on complex EAR enforcement and regulatory issues.

The firm’s National Security practice has received numerous industry recognitions, including being named among The Elite in Chambers Global’s International Trade: Export Controls, and Economic Sanctions category and designated Experts in its International Trade and CFIUS category in 2025, and was listed under The Legal 500 US’s International Trade: Customs, Export Controls, and Sanctions category for the last five years in a row.

“Having seen Jason operate at an extremely high level when we worked together in government, I could not be more thrilled that he’s chosen MoFo’s National Security practice for this next chapter in his career,” said David Newman, a leader of Morrison Foerster National Security and chair of its interdisciplinary Government Strategies practice. “Our clients will benefit greatly from his insights and experience at the leading-edge of the administration’s export control and tariff policies, as well as from his strategic approach to lawyering.”

Lebowitz’s arrival further expands Morrison Foerster’s market-leading National Security platform and deep bench of leading practitioners advising clients on evolving geopolitical, trade, and enforcement risks. He is the latest former government official with cutting-edge export control experience to arrive at the Firm, joining Chris Chamberlain, former Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Commerce; David Newman, former Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security at DOJ; and Brandon Van Grack, former senior official at DOJ, among others. Paired with the deep experience that Charles Capito has brought advising clients on the front lines of export controls for more than a decade, the team is uniquely positioned to help clients navigate rapidly evolving regulatory and enforcement developments affecting critical technologies, semiconductors, supply chains, and cross-border business operations.

“Morrison Foerster’s unrivaled roster of former senior government officials was a major draw for me,” said Lebowitz. “The firm has built an elite national security and government team and is continuing to invest in that platform in meaningful ways. I’m excited to work with David and Chris again and join my new colleagues in helping clients navigate today’s increasingly complex and rapidly evolving national security landscape.”

FTI Consulting Grows Transactions Practice, Appoints Yousefy as Senior Managing Director

FTI Consulting announced the appointment of Damon Yousefy as a Senior Managing Director in the Transactions practice within the firm’s Corporate Finance segment.

Yousefy, who is based in Dallas, specializes in restructuring and bankruptcy tax and has worked on numerous notable debt restructurings advising companies on complex tax matters. His experience also includes large-scale mergers and acquisitions as well as distressed M&A services across a variety of industries including oil and gas, technology, media, mining and other sectors.

In his role at FTI Consulting, Yousefy will support companies in financial distress on complex tax issues such as cancellation of debt income, significant modifications, liability management transactions, and partnership tax considerations in restructurings. He will also help clients through tax due diligence, structuring and tax modeling for U.S. and international transactions.

“Geopolitical instability and high energy prices are impacting multiple industries, while interest rates and private credit stress add pressure to leveraged companies,” said Melissa Wichman, Co-Leader of U.S. Tax Advisory at FTI Consulting. “Damon’s track record of delivering value through early tax intervention and his ability to work across industries will be instrumental to help our clients successfully navigate market volatility.”

Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Yousefy was a Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal, where he managed distressed client engagements and led multi-billion-dollar debt restructuring and bankruptcy tax engagements. He previously worked at PwC, where he focused on M&A and restructuring tax services.

Commenting on his appointment, Yousefy said, “FTI Consulting is known in the industry as a leading restructuring firm, capable of offering clients fully integrated and comprehensive tax support. I look forward to joining my colleagues as we anticipate challenges, preserve liquidity and unlock value for our clients.”