Bank of Nova Scotia appointed Alberta G. Cefis to the position of executive vice president and group head, Global Transaction Banking, which provides totally integrated business solutions to businesses of all sizes on a global basis.

“In her new role, Cefis’s extensive experience and wide-ranging expertise will be tremendously valuable in achieving the strategic objectives of the bank on a global level,” said Rick Waugh, president and CEO of BNS.

Cefis — who is currently executive vice president, Domestic Personal Lending and Insurance, and president and CEO of Scotia Mortgage Corporation — will assume her new position effective April 30.


Cefis, who joined BNS in 1999, has extensive experience in retail banking, wealth management, business banking, risk management, operations and service delivery, marketing, strategic planning and organizational development.

In 2003, 2004 and 2005, she was named to the Top 100 List of Canada’s Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network and the University of Western Ontario’s Richard Ivey School of Business. She is actively involved in a number of industry associations and community endeavours. Currently, she is chairwoman of the Chip Executive Council, director of the Visa Canada Association Board and director of the Visa International Board.

In her new role, Cefis will report directly to Bob Brooks, vice chairman and group treasurer, BNS. She will be replacing Albert Wahbe, who will be retiring from the Bank on May 31 after more than 26 years of service.