William M. Currie
William Masterton Currie | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada |
| Died | December 18, 1980 (aged 70) Vancouver, Canada |
| Occupation | Banker |
| Years active | 1927–1973 |
| Known for | President of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (1964–1968) |
William Masterton Currie (22 May 1910 – 18 December 1980) was a prominent Canadian banker who held the position of president at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) between 1964 and 1968.
Currie's banking profession commenced in 1927 with the Canadian Bank of Commerce. During the 1930s, he was assigned to the bank’s branch in Trinidad. His wartime service included a commission as an officer in the Trinidad Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve from 1943 until 1946. Post-war, he undertook roles in London and Kingston, Jamaica, before transferring to the Toronto head office in 1954.
By 1959, Currie had advanced to deputy general manager. He maintained this position following the 1961 merger that formed CIBC. In 1963, he was elevated to chief general manager and became a board director in 1964. Currie succeeded Jeffery Page Rein Wadsworth as CIBC president in December 1964, a role he fulfilled until 1968 when he was appointed vice-chairman and moved to Vancouver. He retired in 1973 and died in Vancouver at age 70.
Early years and education
Born on 22 May 1910 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, William Masterton Currie was the son of William Masterton Currie Sr and Mary Anne Murdoch.
Career
Currie began his career at the Canadian Bank of Commerce on 4 July 1927. In the decade of the 1930s, he served at the bank’s Port of Spain branch in Trinidad.
During World War II, from April 1943 to July 1946, he served as a naval officer with the Trinidad Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. After returning to banking in 1946, he was posted to London and subsequently appointed assistant manager of the Kingston, Jamaica branch in 1950.
In 1954, Currie relocated to Toronto to manage the mortgage department at head office and was promoted to chief inspector in 1955. He later held positions as regional superintendent and assistant general manager in Winnipeg before returning to Toronto as deputy general manager in December 1959. Following the June 1961 merger of Canadian Bank of Commerce with Imperial Bank of Canada forming CIBC, Currie retained his deputy general manager role. He advanced to chief general manager in May 1963 and joined the board as director in May 1964.
On 8 December 1964, Currie was appointed as CIBC’s third president. He remained president until April 1968 when he became vice-chairman and moved to Vancouver. The Currie family lived in Shaughnessy, Vancouver. He retired on his birthday, 22 May 1973.
Other interests
Currie was affiliated with esteemed clubs such as the Toronto Club, York Club, Toronto Golf Club, Granite Club, Mount Royal Club, Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, and Vancouver Club. His directorships included influential financial and industrial bodies like General Accident Assurance Company, Scottish Canadian Assurance Corporation, Canadian Nuclear Association, and Canadian Pioneer Insurance Company. Between July 1963 and December 1964, he served as president of the Canadian Bankers' Association and also chaired the United Appeal for Metropolitan Toronto campaign in 1962.
Personal life
On 7 April 1956, Currie married Audrey Margaret Echlin (1929–2007). They had four children: Catherine, William, Elizabeth, and James. He passed away on 18 December 1980 in Vancouver at age seventy.