Group Head, Global Human Resources and Communications

As Group Head, Global Human Resources and Communications, Sylvia Chrominska has global responsibility for human resources, corporate communications, government relations, public policy and corporate social responsibility of the Scotiabank Group.

Sylvia joined Scotiabank in 1979 as a Credit Analyst in Corporate Credit. She held progressively more senior positions over the next decade until being appointed Senior Vice-President, Corporate Credit, with responsibility for Eastern Canada, Eastern United States, Europe and Japan. In 1994, she transferred to Human Resources, where she was appointed Executive Vice-President in 1995. In 2004, her mandate was expanded to include Public, Corporate and Government Affairs.

Sylvia’s community activities include serving on the Dean's Advisory Board at the Richard Ivey School of Business and on the Stratford Festival Board of Governors. She is a member of the Women’s Executive Network, the International Women’s Forum, the Global Human Resources Roundtable, the Institute of Corporate Directors and the C.D. Howe Institute. She also serves on the Advisory Council of Habitat for Humanity, Toronto.

Previously, Sylvia served on the boards of Sheena’s Place, Goodwill Industries of Toronto, the Rehabilitation Institute of Toronto Foundation and the Canadian Club. She is also a former chair of the Human Resources Committee of the Canadian Bankers Association and of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Canadian Bankers. In 2005, she was recognized by the YWCA as a Woman of Distinction for Corporate Leadership for her work in helping to advance the careers of women. Sylvia was named to the Top 100 List of Canada's Most Powerful Women by the Women's Executive Network and the Richard Ivey School of Business for four consecutive years, and was named to its Hall of Fame in 2007.

Sylvia graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1975 with an Honours Degree in Business Administration. She has completed the Western Executive Program at the University of Western Ontario, as well as the Human Resources Executive Program at the University of Michigan Business School and the International Banking Summer School.