CIBC Caribbean Honours Outstanding Employees at FirstStars CEO Awards

Nine of CIBC Caribbean’s most outstanding employees were honoured during the FirstStars Annual CEO Awards at the Wyndham Grand Sam Lord’s Castle on Saturday night.

Under the theme Radiating Excellence, these dedicated team members drawn from across the region were inducted into the CEO’s Hall of Fame. The cocktail party served as the grand finale in a week of activities which included a visit to the Soroptimist Senior Citizens Village in Eden Lodge St Michael.

The awardees were selected from various departments, including Personal and Business Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, Enterprise Security and Fraud Management, and Technology. As part of their prize, they were awarded a seven-night stay at the luxurious St Philip Hotel, accompanied by a guest.

Among the cadre recognised for their excellence were Priscilla Leonce from Antigua, Dona Estwick, Rosalind Waterman, Mikeila Eleibox, and for the second consecutive year Adrian Gomes from Barbados. Representing the Bahamas were double and three-time awardees Nedra Woodside and Sonia Rutherford respectively. Frederica Green-Brazier from St Maarten was another double recipient. In addition to being A FirstStar awardee, Caryl Fontaine Manager of Business Banking, was lauded as the pride of St Lucia. She was presented with the annual CEO FirstStars Award of Distinction for her exceptional contributions having also excelled during her previous tenure in Dominica.

In her opening remarks, Janine Billy, Chief Human Resources Manager, acknowledged “Recognition for a job well done is a part of our ‘Culture of Care.’ We are working so hard to enshrine this in the way of life at CIBC Caribbean and we want every single employee on our team, wherever they may be located, to understand that even if you are not standing here this evening receiving an award, your hard work and your commitment has not gone unnoticed. We see you and we thank you for all that you bring to the table each and every day.”

Billy added, “Our vision of a caring environment extends past self-care and caring for our colleagues to caring for our clients and by extension our community.” She elaborated on their initiatives, saying, “We have created an annual calendar of events to celebrate our employees and to encourage them to care for and celebrate each other. We are encouraging them to look after the total person, so in addition to a huge talent development programme designed to help you grow and develop as an individual, we are also providing learning opportunities, events and activities around mental health, stress management and fitness and wellness management, and, yes, fun.”

Chief Executive Officer Mark St Hill shared his enthusiasm, stating, “I am excited about the level of activity I am seeing across the bank. I am excited that our people are engaged enough to visualise what our ambition will look like as reality.”

He continued, “It is safe to say, therefore, that CIBC Caribbean is leading the charge to create a modern digital banking experience that puts the control of being able to do your banking from anywhere at any time firmly in the hands of the client.”

St Hill assured, “I am invested in the success of this bank, I am invested in the health, happiness, and success of our people. I am invested in the satisfaction and success of our clients. I am invested in the continued development of this great region, and I have given my team my commitment to do whatever is in my power to ensure this bank continues to be successful.”

Entertainment was provided by Riddim Tribe dance troupe and saxophonist Daniel Harvey. (STT)