TORONTO, May 31, 2017 /CNW/ - Scotiabank (TSX: BNS) (NYSE: BNS) today announced that Ian Arellano will become Executive Vice President and General Counsel on January 2, 2018.

"Ian is a highly-talented legal expert and a seasoned global business advisor," said Brian Porter, President and CEO at Scotiabank. "He has worked closely with Scotiabank on many important transactions over the years, and brings a great familiarity with our global business model and key international markets. His experience and judgment make him an ideal fit to lead Scotiabank's legal team and we are delighted to welcome him to our Executive team."

Ian joins Scotiabank from Torys LLP, where he is Co-head of the firm's International Initiative and a senior partner in its corporate transactions practice.  Ian will join Scotiabank as Executive Vice President, Legal, on September 5, 2017 and work with Deborah Alexander, who has led Scotiabank's legal team as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for 15 years, until her planned retirement at the end of 2017.

"Debbie is one of Canada's most highly-regarded securities lawyers, and her strategic guidance and counsel have been invaluable to Scotiabank during a period of monumental change in the banking industry," said Mr. Porter. "We are grateful that she has agreed to stay on at Scotiabank and to assist in this important transition."

As Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Ian will report directly to Brian Porter and lead Scotiabank's global legal affairs, corporate secretary and corporate governance office functions. He will serve as a member of the Bank's Operating Committee, and will chair the Bank's Reputational Risk and Disclosure Committees.

About Ian Arellano:
Ian Arellano graduated with an LLB from the University of Toronto and was called to the Bar in 1986.  Over thirty years of practice,  he has held increasingly senior roles and developed extensive experience across the mining and financial services sectors in M&A, joint ventures and strategic alliances, licensing and other contractual matters. At Torys LLP, Mr. Arellano is Co-head of the firm's International Initiative and a senior partner in the corporate transactions practice. Mr. Arellano has advised Scotiabank on many transactions, including acquisition of a 51% stake in Banco Colpatria in Colombia, the acquisition of Citigroup's retail and commercial banking assets in Panama and Costa Rica, and of our 51% stake in Cencosud's S.A.'s financial services business in Chile.  Mr. Arellano has been recognized by numerous organizations for his work including being named a Leading Lawyer in Corporate Law by Best Lawyers in Canada (2013-2017).

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and Asia-Pacific. We are dedicated to helping our 23 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 88,000 employees and assets of $887 billion (as at January 31, 2017), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (TSX: BNS) and New York Exchanges (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

SOURCE Scotiabank