CIBC congratulates Canadian boxer Custio Clayton on his outstanding amateur career

Dartmouth welterweight was one of the inaugural 67 amateur athletes on CIBC Team Next

HALIFAX, Nov. 28, 2014 /CNW/ - CIBC (TSX: CM) (NYSE: CM) wishes Custio Clayton the best in his pro boxing career and congratulates him on his success as an amateur athlete in what's widely regarded as the world's most demanding sport.

"We wish Custio all the best as he enters this new and exciting chapter of his career," says Mary Spencer, a Canadian boxing icon and CIBC Team Next mentor, who holds three world champion and five Pan American champion titles. "His work ethic and relentless drive to be the best has contributed to his success and will make him the one to watch on the pro circuit.

"Mentorship was always a key part of my own development as an athlete, and it was a privilege to provide the same support and guidance to Custio as his CIBC Team Next mentor," she says.

"I was very happy being part of CIBC Team Next," says Custio. "The program helped me to figure out what I want in life and what it feels to be part of a team that is always there for you. I really appreciated that we always had people around to answer any questions whether it was sport related or outside of sport."

A native of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Custio is a six-time Canadian amateur boxing champion. He was one of the inaugural 67 amateur athletes on CIBC Team Next, a funding and mentorship program that CIBC introduced last year in partnership with AthletesCAN, the association of Canada's national team athletes, and the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario.

"Turning pro means a lot to me," he says. "It's been a dream of mine ever since I was a little boy and I'm so happy that dream is coming true."

About CIBC

CIBC is a leading Canadian-based global financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients. Through our three major business units – Retail and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Wholesale Banking – CIBC offers a full range of products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking network, branches and offices across Canada with offices in the United States and around the world. You can find other news releases and information about CIBC in our Media Centre on our corporate website at www.cibc.com.

About CIBC Team Next

CIBC Team Next is the first program of its kind in Canada that supports the next generation of amateur athletes with not only financial support but mentorship from world-renowned Canadian athlete champions. As the Lead Sponsor of the TORONTO 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games, CIBC is investing $2 million in this program to help 67 amateur athletes, including 16 para-athletes, from across Canada reach their full potential on and off the field.

SOURCE: CIBC

Caroline Van Hasselt, Director, External Communications, 416-784-6699 or [email protected]