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Private Investigators in the UK | The Cotswold Group

Expertise

At Allied Universal Compliance and Investigations, we pride ourselves on our extensive range of experience and industry knowledge.

Our designated teams operate within their specific area of expertise which includes Fraud, Intelligence, Surveillance and Liability Investigation. All operational areas are supported by our centrally based administration and case management team, giving us the infrastructure to provide an end to end investigation service and solution. By bringing together this range of experience, we can deliver an efficient and pro-active strategy on each instruction, tailoring our approach dependent upon each set of circumstances.

Andrew van der Westhuizen

Andrew van der WesthuizenManaging Director

Andrew was appointed as Managing Director of The Cotswold Group, now Allied Universal Compliance and Investigations on 1 January 2023, having joined the company in 2009 from Aviva Insurance. He brings a unique blend of expertise, leadership and a customer-centric approach to the role.

With a background in insurance and customer service, Andrew understands the importance of building strong partnerships, but it is his commitment to continuous improvement which enable him to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of clients.

Andrew's passion for the values and legacy of the business is evident in his leadership style. He is committed to upholding the hard earned reputation of Allied Universal Compliance and Investigations as the most trusted insurance services supplier in the industry. By fostering a culture of integrity, innovation and strong relationships, he ensures that the company will continue to drive positive change within the industry.

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Andrew Cocks

Andrew Cocks Finance Director

Andrew has 20 years’ experience of strategic management gained both in the security services sectors and wider commerce...

Andrew qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Grant Thornton. In 1990 he joined Group 4’s international headquarters where he was the financial lead on business development projects including corporate acquisitions and contract bidding in both corporate and government sectors.

Prior to joining The Cotswold Group, Andrew served for eleven years as Group Finance Director and Group Managing Director, leading the strategic direction of a number of independent businesses operating in sectors as diverse as commodity trading, retail and manufacturing.

During his 12 years at The Cotswold Group, Andrew led on the integration into G4S and Allied Universal. He has led on major business development projects including outsourcing and TUPE transfers.  

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Matthew Cantle

Matthew CantleEVP Global Technology

Matthew was appointed as Executive Vice President of Allied Universal Compliance and Investigations on 1 January 2023. Previously he was the Managing Director of The Cotswold Group from 1 July 2014 to 2022...

Since joining us in 2010 he has held the position of Operations Director and more recently successfully led the Business Development area, implementing a number of strategic change projects.

Matthew has overseen the transition from small privately owned company (The Cotswold Group) , through to becoming integrated in a PLC and has also managed the TUPE working arrangements of 80 staff transferring from Aviva in 2012.

With extensive insurance industry experience, Matthew began his career with Endsleigh and Prudential. Before joining us Matthew worked for Aviva where he held a number of positions including Head of Motor Recoveries.

Originally from Bath, Matthew graduated from Exeter University in 1995 with a BSc in Economics.

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Dan Newton

Dan NewtonOperations Director

Dan's experience in the home insurance industry has been invaluable as Operations Director at Allied Universal Compliance and Investigations and has allowed him to bring a fresh perspective to the company's operations, implementing innovative strategies that have further strengthened the company's operations.

Before joining the company, Dan served in the Armed Forces as a Royal Engineer, held senior positions within the insurance industry and earned a Master’s in Business Administration.

Looking ahead, Dan is committed to build on the culture of excellence and innovation within Allied Universal Compliance and Investigations to further strengthen its reputation as the most trusted provider of insurance services.

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Chris Bester

Chris BesterIT Manager

Chris has been overseeing the company's IT Infrastructure and support functions since 2012, having previously worked as a network and server infrastructure architect contracted to the business.

Chris led the business wide ISO 27001 accreditation in 2013 and has maintained our ISMS ever since.

In addition to overseeing IT Infrastructure and support, he also oversees our Business Intelligence function as well as our internal Software Development team, who is central to our core business strategy to deliver ground breaking innovation which transforms our industry for the better.

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