Haywood Hunt adds fraud and intelligence veteran Gary Askin as senior advisor

Haywood Hunt & Associates has appointed former Waterloo Regional Police superintendent Gary Askin as senior advisor for fraud risk, intelligence and strategic investigations. The hire adds more than 40 years of investigative and fraud risk experience to the Toronto firm’s corporate investigations work.

Why it matters: - Haywood Hunt is deepening its bench in complex fraud, intelligence and sensitive investigations as clients face more cross-border and multi-stakeholder risk. - The addition of Gary Askin strengthens the firm’s corporate investigations division with senior leadership experience from both policing and financial services.

What happened: - Haywood Hunt & Associates Inc. named Gary Askin senior advisor for fraud risk, intelligence and strategic investigations. - Askin brings more than 40 years of experience in law enforcement, investigative intelligence, complex fraud investigations and enterprise fraud risk management. - The appointment was announced Aug. 13, 2026, from Toronto.

The details: - Askin spent 33 years with the Waterloo Regional Police Service and retired as superintendent of strategic and tactical services. - His police career included senior roles covering intelligence, organized crime, major investigations, professional standards, tactical operations and specialized enforcement. - After policing, Askin served as assistant vice-president of fraud and risk management at Sun Life Financial. - His Sun Life role included fraud prevention and detection, investigative response and broader enterprise fraud risk work. - His background includes complex fraud, insurance and benefits fraud, disability fraud, organizational risk and sensitive investigations involving corporate stakeholders, insurers, legal counsel, regulators and police. - At Haywood Hunt, Askin will advise on complex fraud and investigative matters and support the Corporate Investigations Division. - Trevor Haywood, CEO of Haywood Hunt & Associates, said Askin’s experience in law enforcement and the financial sector adds depth to the firm’s expertise in complex client matters. - Haywood Hunt’s Corporate Investigations Division works with corporations, law firms, insurers, financial institutions and other organizations on complex and sensitive investigative matters. - The division’s capabilities include complex fraud investigations, asset tracing and recovery support, insurance and benefits fraud, financial irregularities, investigative intelligence, due diligence, litigation support and complex corporate investigations. - Haywood Hunt says its multidisciplinary team includes professionals with backgrounds in RCMP Commercial Crime, financial crime and major fraud investigations, intelligence, financial institution investigations and regulatory enforcement, along with Certified Fraud Examiners and corporate investigators. - The firm says that experience helps it identify, investigate and assess complex fraud and financial matters across jurisdictions. - Haywood Hunt & Associates is a Canadian investigative firm serving corporate, legal, insurance, government and private clients. - The firm operates throughout Ontario and has investigative capabilities across Canada and internationally. - Its specialties include complex fraud investigations, asset tracing, insurance and benefits fraud, corporate investigations, surveillance and investigative intelligence. - More information is available on the Haywood Hunt & Associates website. - The company also lists its LinkedIn page and X account.

Between the lines: - The hire signals a push to combine public-sector investigative experience with private-sector fraud risk leadership. - Askin’s mix of police, insurance and enterprise risk roles fits the kind of cases that often require coordination among legal, regulatory and law-enforcement teams.

What's next: - Askin is expected to contribute senior advisory support on high-complexity investigations and help expand the firm’s corporate investigations work. - Haywood Hunt is likely to market the new hire as added credibility for clients dealing with fraud, risk and sensitive disputes.