Women in Capital Markets Announces 2012 Award Recipients

TORONTO, Oct. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - Women in Capital Markets (WCM), a non-profit organization that promotes the advancement of women in the Canadian financial services industry, today announced the 2012 winners of the WCM Rising Star Award and the WCM Awards for Leadership.

In its third year, the WCM Rising Star Award honours an individual who, at an early stage in their career, has made a lasting contribution by providing inspirational leadership and mentorship to young women in the industry. The winner of the 2012 WCM Rising Star Award is Viktoriya Gruzytska, Executive Director, Corporate Credit Products, CIBC.

The WCM Award for Leadership, now in its sixth year, recognizes senior executives, male and female, who have combined professional excellence with a demonstrated commitment to advancing and supporting women in the capital markets. The Award for Leadership - Male, was presented to Mark Hughes, Chief Operating Officer, RBC Capital Markets.  This year, the Award for Leadership - Female, had two co-winners: Annie Ropar, Managing Director, Global Equities, RBC Capital Markets and Lovisa McCallum, Managing Director, Financial Products, BMO Capital Markets.

"WCM Awards recognize individual leadership and contribution to advancing the standards of our industry and the type of inspiration, dedication and commitment needed to help advance women in Canadian capital markets," said Martha Fell, CEO of WCM. "These awards are one way we are celebrating women and men for inspiring greater diversity in the financial industry."

The awards were presented at a luncheon earlier today at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, with Ernst & Young LLP as the title sponsor of the event.

About WCM

WCM is a non-profit organization that aims to support and advance women leaders in business, foster accountability for diversity in the industry, and recognize leaders who have contributed significantly to the advancement of women in the capital markets industry. Through innovative programming, WCM offers its members diverse and creative opportunities for networking, career growth and personal development, and mentoring and coaching of both students and professionals. www.wcm.ca

About Ernst & Young LLP

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 167,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential. www.ey.com/ca

SOURCE: Women in Capital Markets (WCM)

Elif McDonald, WCM Media and Public Relations, [email protected], (416) 889 - 8849