Executive Director, Alternatives Distribution

We’re building a relationship-oriented bank for the modern world. We need talented, passionate professionals who are dedicated to doing what’s right for our clients.

At CIBC, we embrace your strengths and your ambitions, so you are empowered at work. Our team members have what they need to make a meaningful impact and are truly valued for who they are and what they contribute.

To learn more about CIBC, please visit CIBC.com

What you'll be doing

Reporting to the Senior Vice-President & Global Head of Distribution, this role is responsible for providing strategic direction and leadership for alternatives distribution activities across CIBC Global Asset Management, with a focus on driving growth in GAM alternative assets under management. This includes partnering with GAM sales teams to develop and maintain advisor relationships across CIBC Wood Gundy and third-party advisor firms, and Canadian and global institutional clients, as it relates to GAM’s alternatives business. The role will work collaboratively with GAM’s business development teams in its institutional and wealth channels.

At CIBC we enable the work environment most optimal for you to thrive in your role. Details on your work arrangement (proportion of on-site and remote work) will be discussed at the time of your interview.

How you'll succeed

• Leadership - Leads the Alternatives Distribution Team. Sets clear roles and responsibilities for the collaboration of the Alternatives Distribution personnel, with: Alternatives Portfolio Managers and Client Portfolio Managers, the National Sales Team of Wholesalers and Business Development Managers, and with the Institutional Team (Business Development, Consultant Relations, Client Relations).
• Strategy Development - Contribute to the overall alternatives vision and strategy of GAM; define clear objectives and work collaboratively with channel sales professionals to execute alternatives distribution strategy.
• Business Development - Collaborate with the channel distribution teams and client portfolio managers to initiate relationships with new clients and expand mandates with existing ones. Secure additional commitments for current mandates, help maintain existing relationships and pursue new business opportunities aligned with our platform and model. Identify prospective new platforms for our products and services and establish connections with their senior investment professionals. Build and maintain deep, long-term relationships with both current and potential key private wealth and institutional clients and partners. In collaboration with channel distribution professionals, develop and maintain a pipeline of institutional, advisor, and wealth platform opportunities to expand distribution of CIBC's products. Help oversee external distribution partnerships (third-party distribution partners), supporting the execution of the distribution strategy.
• Marketing - Assist with defining and building out the GAM Alternatives brand story. Work collaboratively with the MD & Head of US Manager Research & Alternatives, Alternatives Client Portfolio, and the Head of Wealth & GAM Marketing to build and enhance the GAM Alternatives narrative and brand, including sales marketing collateral and client-facing material. Contribute to institutional RFP process and material as it relates to alternatives. Understand client investment goals and objectives and provide thought leadership and targeted distribution strategies in partnership with marketing and channel distribution teams.
• Education and Training - Help lead educational initiatives, training partners, distribution teams, advisors and clients to enhance awareness and understanding of CIBC's alternatives offerings.
• Industry Leadership - Stay ahead of alternatives industry trends and competitive landscape and deliver compelling presentations that position CIBC as a thought leader in the Canadian and global alternatives space.
• Activity Tracking - Maintain detailed activity logs in the CRM system.
• Market Intelligence Gathering - Continuously monitor and analyze market trends, competitor activities, and regulatory changes in the global alternatives landscape. Provide actionable insights and recommendations to senior management and the sales teams to inform strategic decision-making.
• Client Feedback Integration - Actively solicit and gather feedback from clients and advisors regarding CIBC's alternatives strategies and ecosystem. Collaborate with product development and marketing teams to integrate this feedback into product enhancements and new offerings, ensuring that client needs are met effectively.
• Sales Performance Analysis - In collaboration with channel distribution teams, regularly assess and report on sales performance metrics for the CIBC alternatives product suite. Identify areas for improvement and develop targeted action plans to address performance gaps, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives and sales targets.

Who you are

• You have a degree in business, finance and/or Economics. Successful completion of Canadian Securities Course is required. CFA, CAIA, and/or CIM designations would be an asset.
• You can demonstrate experience in alternatives distribution to wealth or institutional channels, or a related financial services role, with a proven track record of success (10+ years of experience). A deep understanding of alternatives investments and strategies, a high impact, well-respected and well-recognized leader in the alternatives asset management sector, and a robust network with both investment advisors and institutions. Extensive product and investment knowledge in alternative investments. Demonstrates high level of comfort in communicating this information to investment advisors and institutional investors.
• You are a transformative leader. You create a shared vision, drive growth, identify new product and distribution opportunities, energized sales and marketing and inspired an organization to new levels of achievement.
• You are a caring and accountable leader. You have experience developing and implementing strategic team goals. You have experience coaching employees and inspiring successful team performance.
• Your influence makes a difference. You are able to position and differentiate products and GAM as a company against competing companies, portfolio managers, services and products is critical to success. You demonstrate experience working with internal partners, including Global Distribution, Product, Marketing & Communications, Client Portfolio Managers, Portfolio Managers, Legal & Compliance, and Total Investment Solutions to achieve overall organization/department goals and objectives. Must have capability in developing distribution strategies and proven track record of executing strategies to grow market share. You have strong communication and presentation skills and proven ability to influence, collaborate and partnerships to achieve business success.
• You have strong business acumen. You possess a comprehensive understanding of the asset management business and the ability to identify attractive business opportunities and implement successful business strategies. You have the ability to understand, conceptualize and implement business processes to ensure successful achievement of accountabilities.
• You can demonstrate experience in CRM software and Microsoft Office Suite. You have strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret market data to inform sales strategies.
• You are motivated by collective success. You work collaboratively with all of the members of GAM to ensure that our firm can distinguish itself through the provision of distinctive, world-class investor solutions, service, and communication. You will conduct yourself as a partner to all professionals of GAM and seek to contribute to the overall business as well as to your functional responsibilities. You will embrace a continuous improvement approach to the business and proactively seek improvements in both your particular market, as well as across the entire business. You will be cooperating and collaborating with a variety of colleagues across the firm and enterprise.
• You’re goal oriented. You are willing to accept “hands on” work required given the comparatively flat nature of the organization. You will continually strive for “best-in-class” performance standards and instill these high standards within your day-to-day work. You will exude integrity, embrace a fiduciary culture and act in the best interests of investors who have chosen CAM as a steward of their investments. You will conduct business in accordance with the highest standards of legal and ethical conduct.
• Values matter to you. You bring your real self to work, and you live our values - trust, teamwork, and accountability.

What CIBC Offers

At CIBC, your goals are a priority. We start with your strengths and ambitions as an employee and strive to create opportunities to tap into your potential. We aspire to give you a career, rather than just a paycheck.

• We work to recognize you in meaningful, personalized ways including a competitive salary, incentive pay, banking benefits, a benefits program*, defined benefit pension plan*, an employee share purchase plan, a vacation offering, wellbeing support, and MomentMakers, our social, points-based recognition program.
• Our spaces and technological toolkit will make it simple to bring together great minds to create innovative solutions that make a difference for our clients.
• We cultivate a culture where you can express your ambition through initiatives like Purpose Day; a paid day off dedicated for you to use to invest in your growth and development.

*Subject to plan and program terms and conditions

What you need to know

• CIBC is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all team members and clients feel like they belong. We seek applicants with a wide range of abilities and we provide an accessible candidate experience. If you need accommodation, please contact Mailbox.careers-carrieres@cibc.com

• You need to be legally eligible to work at the location(s) specified above and, where applicable, must have a valid work or study permit.

• We may ask you to complete an attribute-based assessment and other skills tests (such as simulation, coding, French proficiency, MS Office). Our goal for the application process is to get to know more about you, all that you have to offer, and give you the opportunity to learn more about us.

Job Location

Toronto-161 Bay St., 22nd

Employment Type

Regular

Weekly Hours

37.5

Skills

Analytical Thinking, Client Service, Coaching, Customer Experience (CX), Leadership, Long Term Planning, People Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Business Development, Team Consulting