Co-operators announces executive leadership appointment

Co-operators Group Limited has named Aayaz Pira as its new executive vice president and chief information officer (CIO), effective Sept. 2.

As CIO, Pira will lead the strategic direction, development, and execution of Co-operators’ technology function.

“He will continue to advance the modernization of technology, digital platforms, and data capabilities to fuel innovation and reinforce the organization’s competitive edge,” the insurer says in a press release Wednesday.

Pira will report directly to Rob Wesseling, Co-operators’ president and CEO, and join the organization’s executive leadership team. 

He joins the insurer most recently from Canadian Tire Corporation, where he was president and CEO of Canadian Tire Bank and president of Canadian Tire Financial Services. Pira brings extensive experience in fintech and has spent the last decade in banking.

“In both his professional and personal life, he has demonstrated leadership that aligns with our co-operative values and purpose-driven approach to innovation,” Wesseling says in the release. “His tech-expertise and ability to turn disruption into opportunity will be assets as we advance our strategy and client digital experiences.”

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Beyond his professional achievements, Pira is deeply committed to community involvement. He serves on several boards, including North York General Hospital, the Ted Rogers School of Management’s MBA program, and the Investment Committee of the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto. 

Proudly Canadian since 1945, Co-operators is a financial services co-operative, offering multi-line insurance and investment products, services, and personalized advice to Canadians.

Co-operators General Insurance Company was Canada’s sixth-largest private P&C insurer in 2024, with $5.35 billion in total insurance revenue and 5.13% market share, according to Canadian Underwriter’s 2025 Stats Guide.

Jason Contant

Jason has been an award-winning journalist with Canadian Underwriter for more than a decade, including the past three years as associate editor and, before that, as digital editor for seven years.