Speaker

James Ash, chief investment officer and head of pension investment management and treasury, CIBC Pension Plan

James Ash serves as the chief investment officer and treasurer of the CIBC pension plan. With a keen focus on strategic and tactical asset allocation, he spearheads an innovative investment management program, oversees holistic liquidity management and implements robust risk management strategies.

Over the past decade, Ash’s stewardship has allowed CIBC to maintain an open defined benefit pension plan. His leadership and expertise in advocating for sustainable DB pension plans are evident through unique investment and risk solutions, yielding engineered outcomes.

Ash's professional journey began in the U.K., where he cut his teeth in the actuarial field before transitioning into investment consulting and risk management. He holds a master of science in actuarial finance from Imperial College London and a bachelor of science in mathematics, statistics and operational research from Cardiff University in Wales.