Interview with Allan Copping, Westland’s Chief Financial Officer
Meet Allan Copping, Chief Financial Officer.
He is responsible for accounting, treasury management, planning & forecasting, tax, M&A support, finance and reporting.
“When I was initially approached to join Westland in 2021, I wasn’t familiar with them and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to be a CFO again, given I had spent the last 11 years in other executive roles. However, as I learned more about Westland, I was attracted by their growth story, business strategy, the culture created by the founders, and the opportunity to work with great people.”
Allan is excited to be part of the rapidly growing and respected Westland brand and looks forward to making Westland Canada’s leading insurance broker.
What excites you about our industry?
The work we do is important, helping people manage risks and understand a complex product. People and organizations rely on our advice and expertise to get the coverages and other services and products they need. I’m always intrigued by how we can apply our specialized knowledge within an evolving world of risk.”
How do you think the industry will change in the coming years?
Like many mature industries, I think we’ll continue to see more process automation to make the client experience easier and more efficient. We will continue to see consolidation through acquisitions because size and scale is necessary to invest in people, technology and to access insurance capacity. The industry is quite fragmented, and many brokerage owners are ready to retire so a sale offers a financially secure retirement.
I also think that we will continue to see a high demand for people as Baby Boomers retire. It should be a very good era of career opportunity and development for Gen X’s, Millenials and Gen Z’s and we’ll continue to adapt so we can attract and retain people from these generations.
What’s the one thing that Westland is doing this year that you are most excited about?
Completing the new financial partnership with BroadStreet Partners/Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan was a heavy lift and a huge milestone for many members of my team. This initiative took nearly a year from start to finish.
While securing the long-term growth capital was important, I am also very excited about the ongoing rollout of our Acturis platform across Canada as it will play a critical role in Westland’s evolution as Canada’s favourite insurance broker!
You belong here.
We’re looking for extraordinary people like you to join our team. Visit our Careers page at westlandinsurance.ca
Westland is committed to being a leader in building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. We’re dedicated to identifying and removing barriers so everyone can grow their potential. We take action to create a culture where all people belong.