Dev Tewari has been with CIBC for 36 years. Over those years, he’s spent 12 years on the front line in Banking Centers, 12 years in Business Controls, and another 12 years on regional, strategy, and national office teams, including his current role as Vice President for the National Office, Personal Banking. Throughout his career, he’s seen many iterations of CIBC and is proud of working for an organization that puts its employees and the greater community at the heart of everything it does.

Given his tenure at CIBC, Dev is perfectly suited to speak to what it’s like to work at the organization. He characterizes the culture at CIBC as one that exemplifies care, connectedness, and concern. People feel seen and safe. “It’s not that you just made it to the meeting room, but your voice is being asked for and listened to,” he notes. Dev explains that the company prioritizes providing opportunities for learning about topics such as inclusion and involves CEO Victor Dodig in Listening Exercises. Additionally, he’s personally worked on projects that focus on the needs of the underserved, such as bringing a mobile unit and ATM to Indigenous communities where no bank exists to ensure accessibility to banking services for all.

Now an Executive Sponsor of the Pride People Network, he credits his previous experience as co-lead of the ERG as a driver behind his ascension to executive. In his co-lead role, he was provided more visibility with senior leadership and the board, and had the opportunity to learn more about the organization overall and think more broadly about inclusion. In addition, as Executive Sponsor of the Pride Network Dev is also paying it forward by helping to shape and foster the positive culture at CIBC for others. In the bank’s 155-year history, he was the first openly gay executive who is a person of color. “I’m the first, but I don’t want to be the last. I want to help others, mentor, and provide opportunities for them as well. They can see that being who you are, who you love—you can rise to all levels in the organization.”

Dev Tewari, Vice President, National Office, Personal Banking, CIBC

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