Directors & Management

Leadership Group

Corporate
Scott Tannas
Kenny Nicholls
Catherine Rogers
Tom Dutton
Doug Bennett
Peter Stratton
Peggy Stevenson
Jim Savage
Laurie Gordon
Brian Hynes

Network
Teresa Bristow
Mary Lou Charles
Caroline Gould
Nancy Green
Greg McGill
Peter Loran
Grant Ostir
Roger Ranieri
Justin Friesen
Scott Stewart
Kathryn McCrae
Cliff Hryciuk

Western Life Assurance
Dominique Gregoire
Mark Giesbrecht
Doug Curtis
Diane McMillan

Bank West
Shelly Flint
Jim McGeer
Kevin Crellin
Blair McAuley
Anthonet Maramieri
Seb McGale

Western Financial Insurance Company
Randy Valpy
Glenn Williams
Barry Spencer

 

Directors & Officers

Scott Tannas is Founder, President & CEO of Western Financial Group, where he leads a team dedicated to building the strongest financial services company in western Canada. From humble beginnings as a small town insurance agent in High River, Alberta, Scott engineered the building of Western, through more than one hundred acquisitions, and countless strategic initiatives, all while fostering a corporate culture around Western’s Guiding Principles of Truthfulness, Fairness, Value and Loyalty. 

Today, Western Financial Group is a diversified financial services organization, with 1300+ employees providing more than 550,000 customers with insurance, banking and investment products and services.  The company’s network of 114 offices stretches across the West from Winnipeg to the Pacific coast.

On the journey from small town insurance agency to one of Canada’s largest companies, Western has garnered many awards and citations, including multi -year winners of Profit 100 and Alberta Fast 50 awards for business growth, as well as Top Employer honors for exceptional practices in Human Resources. In 2003, Scott accepted the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, dedicating the honor to the men and women of Western Financial Group, and their steadfast support of the vision and mission of the Company.  In recognition of the growing influence of Western Financial Group  and its impact on the Western economy, Scott was named as one of Alberta’s Most Influential Citizens by Venture Magazine. Business author, Peter C. Newman recently identified him as one of Canada’s “ascending titans”, calling him a man “married to the future”.
 
On April 15, 2011 Western Financial Group was acquired by Quebec based Desjardins Group, in a $440 million transaction. In the 15 years between the IPO in 1996, and Western’s return to a privately owned company in 2011, the company’s stock price rose 1038%. Scott and his management team remain committed to growing Western and creating value for their new owner for many years to come.

Scott is a director of a number of private and public businesses, including Western Financial Group and its subsidiaries Bank West and Western Life.  In addition to his business commitments, he is a member of the Ranchmen's Club of Calgary, a Director and fundraiser for SOS Children’s Villages Canada, and chairman of the Western Communities Foundation.
 
Scott Tannas is a proud native Albertan who was born and raised in High River, Alberta where he continues to reside with his wife Taryn and their four children.

Jim Dinning, Calgary, AB

Stephane Achard, L'lle-Bizard, QC

Douglas Buchanan, Vancouver, BC

Normand Desautels, Mount Royal, QC

Robert Herdman, Calgary, AB

Pierre Mathieu, Saint-Lambert, QC

Sylvie Paquette, Quebec City, QC

Karen Radford, Calgary, AB