Russell E. Harrison
Russell Edward Harrison | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Grandview, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | January 5, 2014 (aged 92) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Banking executive |
| Years active | 1945–1985 |
| Known for | President (1973–1976) and chairman (1976–1985) of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce |
Russell Edward Harrison (31 May 1921 – 5 January 2014) was a prominent Canadian banking executive who held the positions of president (1973–1976) and chairman (1976–1985) at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. After serving with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion during World War II, he began his banking career with the Canadian Bank of Commerce in Winnipeg in 1945. Starting in 1953, Harrison occupied several leadership roles across Ontario and Quebec. Following the 1961 merger between the Bank of Commerce and the Imperial Bank of Canada, he climbed the ranks within the newly formed Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. By 1969, he was appointed executive vice-president at the Toronto headquarters and joined the board as a director in 1970. Harrison took over from Jeffery Page Rein Wadsworth as president in 1973, later assuming the chairman role in 1976 before retiring in 1985. He passed away in 2014 at the age of 92.
Biography
Harrison was born in Grandview, Manitoba, and served overseas with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion during World War II. After the war, he commenced his banking career at the Canadian Bank of Commerce’s Winnipeg branch in 1945. By November 1953, he had advanced to assistant manager in Hamilton, Ontario, and by 1956 was serving in a similar capacity in Toronto. Later that year, he was appointed chief inspector and regional superintendent based in Montreal. Following the June 1961 merger that created the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Harrison progressed to executive vice-president and chief general manager at Toronto headquarters by 1969, earning a director position on the board in 1970.
On 11 December 1973, Harrison succeeded Jeffery Page Rein Wadsworth as president while Wadsworth transitioned to chairman. Harrison maintained the presidency until December 1976 when he assumed the chairman role; Robert Donald Fullerton succeeded him as president. His tenure as chairman concluded with his retirement on 17 January 1985.
Beyond his banking career, Harrison served on boards for Dominion Realty, Royal Insurance, Canada Life, Falconbridge, TransCanada Pipelines, and Western Assurance. He was also a member of several esteemed clubs such as the Toronto Club, Albany Club, York Club, Ontario Club, University Club of Toronto, Ontario Jockey Club, Saint James's Club (Montreal), Mount Royal Club, Ranchmen's Club, and Rosedale Golf Club.
Harrison married Nancy Doreen Bell in 1944, and together they had two children. He died in Toronto on 5 January 2014 at age 92 after a prolonged struggle with Crohn's disease.