Russell Edward Harrison (31 May 1921 – 5 January 2014) was a Canadian banker who served from 1973 to 1976 as president and from 1976 to 1985 as chairman of the board of the

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC; ) is a Canadian Multinational corporation, multinational banking and financial services corporation headquartered at CIBC Square in the Financial District, Toronto, Financial District of Toronto, Ont ...

. After serving with the

1st Canadian Parachute Battalion The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was an airborne infantry battalion of the Canadian Army formed in July 1942 during the Second World War; it served in North West Europe, landing in Normandy during Operation Tonga, in conjunction with the D ...

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Harrison joined the

Canadian Bank of Commerce The Canadian Bank of Commerce was a Canadian bank that operated from 1867 to 1961. It merged in 1961 with the Imperial Bank of Canada to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, which today is one of Canada's Big Five banks of Canada, Big Five ...

in November 1945 in Winnipeg. Beginning in 1953, Harrison held several managerial position with the Bank of Commerce in Ontario and Quebec, and after its merger with the

Imperial Bank of Canada The Imperial Bank of Canada was a Canadian bank that operated from 1873 to 1961. In 1961, Imperial merged with the Canadian Bank of Commerce to become the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. History It was founded in 1873 as the Imperial Bank ...

in June 1961, with the new Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. In 1969, Harrison was appointed an executive vice-president at the bank's head office in Toronto, and in 1970 was elected a director. In December 1973 he succeeded Jeffery Page Rein Wadsworth as the bank's president, and in December 1976 succeeded Wadsworth as chairman of the board. Harrison retired as chairman in January 1985. He died on 5 January 2014 at age 92.

Biography

Russell Edward Harrison was born in Grandview, Manitoba on 31 May 1921 to Edward Smith Harrison (1879–1943) and Annie Louise Purvis (1886–1946). During World War II, he served in Europe with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. After the war, he joined the Canadian Bank of Commerce in Winnipeg in November 1945. In November 1953, the bank appointed him assistant manager in Hamilton, Ontario, and in January 1956 an assistant manager in Toronto. In October 1956 he became chief inspector of the bank, and in December 1956 he became regional superintendent and assistant general manager in Montreal. After the Bank of Commerce merged with the Imperial Bank of Canada in June 1961, Harrison began working for the new Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. In August 1969 he was assigned to the bank's head office in Toronto, where he was appointed an executive vice-president and chief general manager. Harrison was elected a director in December 1970. On 11 December 1973, Harrison succeeded Jeffery Page Rein Wadsworth as president, while Wadsworth succeeded Neil John McKinnon as chairman of the board. Harrison remained president until 14 December 1976, when he succeeded Wadsworth as chairman, and was replaced as president by Robert Donald Fullerton. Harrison retired as chairman on 17 January 1985.Martin Mittelstaedt, "Harrison resigns as CIBC chairman," ''Globe and Mail'', (18 January 1985), B1. Harrison was a member of the Toronto Club, Albany Club, York Club, Ontario Club, University Club of Toronto, Ontario Jockey Club, Saint James's Club, Mount Royal Club, Ranchmen's Club, and

Rosedale Golf Club Rosedale Golf Club is a private golf club in Toronto, founded in 1893 in Moore Park. The course hosted the Canadian Open in 1912 and 1928. History Founded in 1893 in Moore Park as a 9-hole course and moved to Rosedale, Toronto in 1895–1896 o ...

. He served as a director of Dominion Realty, Royal Insurance,

Canada Life The Canada Life Assurance Company ( French: ''La Compagnie d'Assurance du Canada sur la Vie''), commonly known as Canada Life (''Canada-Vie''), is a Canadian insurance and financial services company with its headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The ...

Falconbridge Falconbridge may refer to: *Falconbridge Ltd., a Canadian mining company *Falconbridge, Middlesex County, Ontario *Falconbridge, Greater Sudbury, Ontario People with the surname *Lord Falconbridge, an alternative title for barons, viscounts, and e ...

, TransCanada Pipelines, and Western Assurance. On 18 October 1944, Harrison married Nancy Doreen Bell. They had two children, Deirdre and Alan. Harrison died in Toronto on 5 January 2014 at age 92 after having suffered from

Crohn's disease Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may affect any segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, abdominal distension, and weight loss. Complications outside of the ...

. A funeral was held on 9 January at Morley Bedford Funeral Services.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, Russell E. 1921 births 2014 deaths 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Canadian bank presidents Canadian bankers Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce people Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce presidents