TORONTO, May 22 /CNW/ - Scotiabank today announced the appointment of
Dr. Indira V. Samarasekera, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of
Alberta, and Mr. Thomas C. O'Neill, retired Chair of PwC Consulting, as new
members of the Bank's Board of Directors, effective May 26, 2008.
    "The Board welcomes Dr. Indira Samarasekera and Mr. Thomas O'Neill as new
Directors," said Arthur Scace, Chairman of the Board, Scotiabank. "The
addition of such capable Canadians reinforces the Board's ability to provide
stewardship of the Bank and to supervise the management of the Bank's business
and affairs."
    Dr. Samarasekera is the University of Alberta's 12th president and the
province's first female university head. Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, she is an
Officer of the Order of Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a
Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the Canadian
Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (CIMM).
    A member of the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Public Service, as
well as the Advisory Board for the Canadian Space Agency, Dr. Samarasekera
sits on the boards of the Conference Board of Canada, the Public Policy Forum
of Canada, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), the
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, and the Canadian
International Council. She also serves on the President's Visiting Committee
for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
    Mr. O'Neill was formerly CEO of PwC Consulting, COO of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Global, CEO of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Canada
and Chair and CEO of Price Waterhouse Canada.
    Mr. O'Neill is a director of BCE Inc., Loblaw Companies Limited, Nexen
Inc. and Adecco S.A. He is a member of the External Audit Committee of the
International Monetary Fund, Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of Queen's
University and a director of St. Michael's Hospital.
    The current directors include business and community leaders active at
the regional, national and international levels. Overall, the size and
composition of the Bank's Board reflect the broad geographic reach of
Scotiabank's customer base and the Bank's diversified international
operations.

    Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and
Canada's most international bank. With more than 60,000 employees, Scotiabank
Group and its affiliates serve approximately 12.5 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 $449 billion in assets (as at January 31, 2008), Scotiabank trades on the
Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit
www.scotiabank.com.