Cowan brings a distinctly Canadian approach to global benefits consulting.
As a proudly Canadian, privately held, and independent organization, we combine strong governance standards with practical, market driven execution.
By working closely with trusted global consulting partners, we provide a holistic and coordinated approach to global benefits strategy—grounded in local expertise and informed by global insight.
Why Global Benefits Consulting Matters
As organizations expand internationally, employee benefits become increasingly complex. Employers must balance consistency and oversight with local legislative requirements, market practices, and cultural expectations.
Cowan supports multinational employers by aligning:
- Global benefits strategy
- Governance
- Local execution
Our approach helps clients maintain control and transparency at the global level while ensuring benefits remain locally appropriate, compliant, and competitive in every market where they operate.
Global support for organizations of all sizes
Today, organizations of all sizes operate beyond their home country. Whether supporting a small international footprint or a large multinational workforce, Cowan helps employers navigate benefits outside Canada with confidence.
Through long‑standing partnerships around the world, we provide access to vetted, like‑minded consulting and service models in the countries where our clients operate. This ensures consistency in consulting philosophy, service standards, and delivery while leveraging deep local market knowledge.
What is the Cowan Global Team?
Cowan’s Global Team is a dedicated group of consultants who work exclusively with multinational clients in close collaboration with our global consulting partners. This specialized team was established to address the unique needs of employers with international operations.
Our model combines Cowan’s Canadian benefits expertise with global partnership development and coordination.
Clients benefit from:
- Local, in‑country expertise delivered through trusted partners
- Canadian benefits consulting that integrates seamlessly with global programs
This approach allows employers to harmonize benefits across borders while respecting local requirements and practices.
Global coordination. Local expertise.
Cowan’s Global Team supports clients by translating benefits across jurisdictions—helping employers offer programs that are compliant, benchmark‑appropriate, and aligned with their broader total rewards strategy.
Through our long-standing partnerships with consulting firms in 135 countries, Cowan:
- Services more than 20 million employees worldwide
- Collaborates with over 250 mutual clients
- Supports more than 40,000 Canadian employees
Our Partners
Strong partnerships. Active leadership.
Cowan’s relationships with our global partners are well established and deeply integrated. We actively participate on executive boards and advisory panels within our partnerships, helping shape strategy, direction, and service delivery for multinational clients.
Our Global Team is responsible for day‑to‑day consulting, relationship management, prospecting, and continued development. This ensures our clients receive consistent, high‑quality support as their global needs evolve.
As our clients grow and change, our partnerships continue to expand across Benefits, Pension and Retirement, and Disability/Leave of Absence Management consulting, providing flexible resourcing and broader global reach.