Mark Playfair
About Mark Playfair
Mark Playfair is the Senior Director of Real Estate Credit Risk Management at CIBC with extensive experience in real estate finance and leadership roles in the financial sector.
Title and Roles at CIBC
Mark Playfair currently holds multiple significant roles at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). He serves as Senior Director, Real Estate Credit Risk Management, a position he has held since 2014 in the Toronto, Canada Area. He is also the Market Vice-President of the Real Estate Finance Division, a role he assumed in 2012 in GTA - Woodbridge, ON. Additionally, Mark has been the Director & Team Leader at CIBC since 2007, working from Hamilton, ON, and Woodbridge, ON.
Previous Experience in Banking and Finance
Before his extensive tenure at CIBC, Mark Playfair worked at RBC as a Senior Account Manager from 2005 to 2007 in Hamilton, ON. His earlier career also includes a series of progressive roles at CIBC from 2001 to 2005, where he served as an Associate, Manager and then Senior Manager in Hamilton, ON. Prior to that, he worked at GE as an Assistant Account Manager and Account Manager from 1998 to 2001 in Mississauga, ON.
Educational Background
Mark Playfair studied Commerce at McMaster University, earning a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm.) degree from 1994 to 1998. This foundation in commerce has contributed significantly to his extensive career in banking and finance.
Leadership and Military Experience
Mark Playfair has gained valuable leadership experience as a commissioned officer in the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve. His military background includes Canadian military and NATO training and deployment throughout Canada and the U.S.A., specifically in both Atlantic and Pacific surface fleet postings. This experience has undoubtedly contributed to his strong leadership skills in his professional career.
Professional Skills
Mark Playfair is experienced in recruiting, coaching, and mentoring new staff, aiming to motivate and influence positive behavior for delivering excellent client service and achieving financial plans. He holds a Chartered Professional Accounting designation and leads a team responsible for credit oversight and portfolio management for CIBC’s commercial and corporate real estate portfolio. His focus areas include construction financing, commercial mortgage lending, and real estate project finance for leading Canadian builders and developers.