CIBC Innovation Banking expanded its New York City office with a series of new hires and promotions as the group continues its growth in technology, life science and clean technology markets in North America and the UK.

“Over the past three years, New York-based startups and venture capital firms have embraced our team’s financing expertise and CIBC’s consistent approach to the innovation economy,” Mark McQueen, president and executive managing director of CIBC Innovation Banking, said. “These new team additions and promotions are just the latest in a series of initiatives we are taking to help our clients realize their ambitions.”

The office expansion involves multiple new hires and promotions, with Ryan Enriquez joining as executive director from JPMorgan Chase’s technology and disruptive commerce team. A decorated veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Enriquez began his career in financial services following his service in the military and has spent the last several years assisting technology companies in the tri-state area.

Enriquez’s addition to the U.S.-based CIBC Innovation Banking team follows other recent recruitments from across the United States, with executive director Jonathan Schupack and managing directors Joe Hammer and Tej Sahi coming aboard.

Additionally, Caroline Tkatschow, a director in CIBC Innovation Banking’s Toronto office, recently moved to the New York office as a relationship manager. Since joining the CIBC Innovation Banking team in 2018, Tkatschow has worked across a variety of early, mid and late-stage financing situations.

CIBC’s New York team also added Jean Rafaelian as an associate to support the fund banking group.

In addition, existing managing director Paul Gibson will have the broadened responsibility to help drive the team’s progress in the Mid-Atlantic and New York markets. Gibson joined CIBC Innovation Banking’s Reston, VA, office in 2018 and will now manage the technology lending teams in these two venture capital and growth equity markets.