In the latest in our series of NexJ employee profiles, we are pleased to introduce Andrew Cant, Vice President for Financial Services Solutions. Below, Andrew shares some insights into his role leading R&D efforts and fostering a culture of innovation, what gets him excited about the future of integrated advisor desktops, and his passion for protecting our coastlines from coastal erosion.
Andrew, please describe your role with NexJ. What does your day-to-day look like?
As Vice President for Financial Services Solutions, I am responsible for driving the vision and direction of our products from a functional standpoint. I monitor industry trends through relationships with our clients, prospects, industry groups and analysts to identify pain points we can solve using our platform and products. I also lead our efforts in R&D and innovation, which is one of the most exciting parts of my job. Understanding the problems our clients and prospects are facing and transforming them into software solutions that help drive productivity and growth in their businesses is enormously gratifying.
Prior to NexJ, I worked at Credit Suisse Wealth Management in the United Kingdom for 15 years as head of change management and was responsible for all relationship manager solutions, including CRM and the integrated advisor desktop.
What attracted you to NexJ?
When I worked at Credit Suisse, I was part of the team that selected NexJ to be our integrated advisor desktop back in 2013. NexJ proved to be far and away the best vendor that I worked with, and I developed ongoing strategic relationships with the team that supported me. Many vendors do not do this after the software has been implemented, but it felt like a true partnership with NexJ in helping me and my team deliver solutions that were transformative for the business. I moved to Canada in 2017 and reaching out to NexJ’s CEO was my first “port of call” when searching for a job. I wanted to be part of this team, which is so incredibly collaborative, creative and passionate about what they do. I couldn’t be happier to be here!
Describe the culture at NexJ. What makes it special?
We spend a large part of our day at work, so I’ve always believed you should enjoy what you do and the people you work with. These are the two main elements that make NexJ so special. I love the mix of people who work here, who have very diverse backgrounds both personally and professionally. My background is on the business side, so I rely heavily on the team to take my ideas and make them a reality. The dedication and creativity of the team, along with the open collaboration we have across the company, enables us to work in an extremely focused and efficient manner ... and we have a lot of fun along the way!
What gets you excited about the future?
The possibilities for future products and solutions leveraging our integrated experiences, domain expertise and data capabilities get me excited when I think of the transformative solutions we can deliver. The idea of real-time connected data that can provide valuable insights and client intelligence all wrapped up in a seamless, personalized experience for financial advisors and clients will enable us to truly transform the industry.
Anything you'd like to share about yourself personally?
I have a 2 ½ year old daughter, who I spend most of my time with when I’m not working, which is always lots of fun.
I also have a part-time role as a non-executive director for a UK company that provides natural solutions to protect coastlines from coastal erosion. We install structures that are powered with electricity to attract and accelerate coral reef growth, which works as a natural barrier to reduce wave power and protect coastlines from erosion. We currently have some initial installations in Mexico and are working on other projects in several other countries.
