Kikelomo Lawal recently retired from her role as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of CIBC, overseeing all of CIBC’s Legal, Corporate Governance, Client Complaints and Appeals, Government Relations and Whistleblower functions. In her capacity as a member of the Executive Team, she also provided strategic advice to the CIBC Board of Directors and to Senior Management, and was responsible for leading the development of the environmental, social and governance strategy across the bank.

Kikelomo has 30 years of progressive leadership experience, building on her expertise as both a trial lawyer and a transactional lawyer, practicing on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border, in private practice and in-house capacities, and in civil and criminal contexts. She has also led the strategic development of multiple corporate functions and operating groups.

A mentor to many, Kikelomo contributes her time as a Board member and advisor to various organizations. Her many accolades include recognition on two occasions as one of WXN’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, as a member of the GC Powerlist, and as one of the 25 Most Influential Women in Payments. She has also been a finalist for the National Post General Counsel of the Year Award.

Kikelomo obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. She also holds a Certificate of Management Excellence from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from New York University. She is a member of the New York State Bar and Law Society of Ontario. She and her husband are the proud parents of three.