Leadership
Andrew Butler, Executive Chairperson
Andrew Butler is the Executive Chairman for Cottingham & Butler. Andrew is responsible for leading Cottingham & Butler, Inc. to maximize prosperity, growth and the ongoing development of its employees, requiring respect for people all the while providing services of exceptional quality to our clients. Prior to joining Cottingham & Butler, Andy was President and CEO of Butler Insurance Service, Inc. and Butler Benefit Service, Inc. There he spent his time building the organizations to be premier providers of employee benefit consulting and claim management services.
Cottingham & Butler is the 5th largest privately owned insurance broker in the U.S., the 25th largest insurance broker in the U.S., and a recognized leader in offering innovative property & casualty and employee benefit insurance solutions. The company is headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa, and employs over 1,000 employees across the United States. Cottingham & Butler delivers a full suite of risk management and employee benefit services to a variety of industries.
Since our founding in 1887, Cottingham & Butler continues to strive to be one of the greatest and most well respected insurance brokers in the nation. Fundamental to this, is a mission and set of values that defines our culture and the way we do business.
David O. Becker, CEO
David Becker is the Chief Executive Officer for Cottingham & Butler. David leads the company’s overall business operations for Cottingham & Butler and its subsidiaries.
Prior to joining Cottingham & Butler, David spent 8 years with McKinsey & Company in Chicago, where he was a Partner specializing in issues related to strategy and marketing. Before McKinsey, David worked for IBM in a sales and marketing capacity.
David earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, graduating magna cum laude. David also holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School, graduating magna cum laude.
David serves on the Board of the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, is a member of the Washington University Olin School of Business National Council, and is currently the President of the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers. He is active in several civic and charitable organizations including Junior Achievement and the United Way.
John E. Butler, Chairperson
John joined his family’s insurance firm in 1957 as one of three employees. Under his leadership and vision, Cottingham & Butler has grown to over 1,050 employees. The company’s growth as consultants has been fueled by the development of alternative market facilities including claim administration, health, managed care and safety. John’s current focus is the development and implementation of initiatives for the company’s vigorous growth.
John is a former director and executive committee member for both Assurex Global and the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers. He is a past chair of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry.
In his community, John currently sits on the Executive Committee of the Board for the University of Dubuque and formerly the Grand Opera House Foundation. He was honored with the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also served as a former board member for a number of local organizations. Currently, John serves on the Executive Committee of The Noble Network of Charter Schools as well as The Lyric Opera, both of Chicago.
He recently was one of the principal founders of Heritage Works, a nonprofit fostering historic preservation.
John graduated from Babson College in Massachusetts with a BS in Business Administration and received his MBA in Insurance from Wharton as well as a CPCU designation.
