TORONTO, Sept. 11 /CNW/ - Rick Waugh, President and CEO, today announced
executive appointments in the Latin American operations of Scotiabank's
International Banking division.
    Anatol von Hahn, currently President and CEO, Grupo Scotiabank Mexico,
has been appointed Executive Vice President (EVP), Latin America. Nicole Reich
de Polignac, currently the Bank's Country Head in Dominican Republic, has been
named President and CEO, Grupo Scotiabank Mexico.
    "Leadership is a strategic priority for Scotiabank, and these two
appointments demonstrate the bench strength we have in our executive ranks,"
Mr. Waugh said. "Anatol has done an outstanding job of building our franchise
in Mexico and we look forward to having his experience and expertise focused
on our broader Latin American operations."
    In his new position, Mr. von Hahn will be based in Toronto and report to
Rob Pitfield, EVP and Head, International Banking, and will be responsible for
overseeing Scotiabank's operations in Mexico and the Spanish-speaking
countries in the Caribbean and in Central and South America.
    Mr. von Hahn joined Scotiabank in 1984 upon graduation from Concordia
University and has also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard
University Business School. He has held progressively senior positions with
the Bank, with experience in Domestic retail banking, commercial credit and
International Banking, which included postings in Argentina, Chile and
Singapore. He was appointed President & CEO, Grupo Scotiabank Mexico, in 2003.
Mr. von Hahn, who is scheduled to begin his new duties in mid-October,
replaces Peter Cardinal, who is retiring December 31 after 43 years with
Scotiabank.
    Ms Reich has a Master in Business Administration degree from Instituto
Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico in Mexico City. She joined Scotiabank in 2005
from a major U.S. bank, where she held various senior roles in several Latin
American countries, including Mexico, Peru, Chile and Dominican Republic. She
is scheduled to begin her new position early next month.
    "Since joining the Bank, Nicole has distinguished herself with her
leadership of our operations in Dominican Republic and we look forward to her
contribution in Mexico," Mr. Waugh said.
    Jim Meek will replace Ms Reich as Country Head in the Dominican Republic.
Mr. Meek previously headed the successful integration of Baninter and our
Dominican Republic branches in 2003. He has more than 40 years of service with
the Bank, including assignments within the Domestic Bank, Operations and Human
Resources, and international experience in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the U.S.
Virgin Islands, Mexico and Peru.
    After serving more than 30 years in Retail and Commercial Banking in
Canada, Mr. Cardinal was appointed Country Head in Mexico in 1996. He was
appointed to his current role in 2003, strengthening and leading our growth in
Latin America and the Spanish-speaking regions of the Caribbean through
acquisitions in Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Peru, Costa Rica and, most
recently, Chile.
    "I want to thank Peter for his outstanding service to his customers and
colleagues during more than four decades with the Bank and wish him the best
in his retirement," Mr. Waugh said.
    Scotiabank has operated in Mexico since 1967. Scotiabank Mexico is the
country's sixth largest commercial bank, with 7,922 employees, 527 branches
and a network of 1,216 automated banking machines (ABMs). Scotiabank Mexico
provides more than 1.4 million personal, commercial and corporate customers
with a full range of banking products and services, along with select capital
markets capabilities.
    Elsewhere in Latin America, Scotiabank has operations in Chile, Peru,
Venezuela, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Puerto
Rico. In these countries, Scotiabank has about 12,710 employees, 490 branches
and 820 ABMs.

    Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and
Canada's most international bank. With almost 60,000 employees, Scotiabank
Group and its affiliates serve approximately 12 million customers in some 50
countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a diverse range of products and
services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking.
With US$382 billion in assets (as at July 31, 2007), Scotiabank trades on the
Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit
www.scotiabank.com.