Member of the Year 2024-2025
TM - September 19, 2025 - Featured Content Area
Announcement of David Powell CFLA Member of the Year
Chair’s Banquet Reception sees almost 400 members in attendance
Toronto, ON, Sept. 19, 2025 Canadian Finance & Leasing Association (CFLA), today, announced Shahan Khan, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer with Bennington Financial Corp. as this year’s David Powell CFLA Member of the Year. During the CFLA’s 52nd annual conference, Howard Cobham, CFLA Board Chair and Executive Vice President of member company GM Financial, presented the Member of the Year award.
CFLA | ACFL David Powell Member of Year Award 2024-2025
Recipient: Shahan Khan
The CFLA are thrilled to announce Shahan Khan as Member of the Year, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to their organization. Shahan has been a dedicated CFLA member for many years. He not only serves as the chair of the Equipment Lenders Committee, but he is a member of the Industry Fraud Taskforce, and an active participant in the AML Working Group and finally continues to be an active participant at CFLA events and conferences.
Shahan is the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at Bennington Financial Corp., an Equitable Bank company. Shahan has been with Bennington for the past 13 years. Prior to joining Bennington, Shahan was in private practice representing various banks and financial institutions in the fields of secured and unsecured lending, as well as commercial litigation, among other related areas of law. In 2019, Shahan formally began leading Bennington’s Compliance team and has been part of the evolution of the team since then, all within an expanding regulatory framework.
This breadth of experience and expertise has not only benefitted Bennington but has also been a benefit to the CFLA and, by extension, the wider ABF industry. The CFLA has always been a leading voice in combating theft and fraud within our industry. In recent years, in a highly visible way, with CFLA Auto Theft Whitepaper, which shone a spotlight on the issue and galvanized government and police resources to combat organized crime and harden our borders to illegal exports and directly led to the federal government's first-ever National Summit on Combating Auto Theft in February 2024. Around that same time, not to rest on its laurels, the CFLA launched the Industry Fraud Taskforce to specifically address the rise of fraud in both the equipment and auto finance and leasing industries. Shahan was an inaugural and integral member of this committee, lending his considerable experience as a lawyer, litigator, and industry leader to help guide the CFLA’s anti-fraud and fraud mitigation programs.
Most significantly, Shahan was the leading contributor, editor, and industry expert most responsible for the CFLA comprehensive fraud prevention guide. Coming in at a hefty 30 pages, it includes practical and actionable best practices, information, and resources for our members. Shahan was also a leading voice in the creation of our new Suspicious Activity Alerts, which was launched this past December.
Howard Cobham, EVP, GM Financial and Chair of the CFLA Board, said, "Shahan's meaningful contribution has had a significant and measurable impact on the CFLA’s fight to combat the criminals and fraudsters who conspire to take advantage. And I’m proud to say together we’re making an impact. The fight is not over, and we’re glad to have you in our corner. Together we’re making a difference as the CFLA slogan says: Collective Impact, Canadian Prosperity!"
The David Powell CFLA Member of the Year Award recognizes members who work to advance the industry’s priorities and the CFLA’s goals. “Mark’s commitment to excellence and his ability to inspire those around him have set a new standard for leadership within our community”, said CFLA Chair Howard Cobham. He continued, “His passion and expertise have been invaluable, making him a truly deserving recipient of this honor.”
The David Powell CFLA Member of the Year Award is named after the CFLA’s former President and CEO. When he first announced the award, Powell said “The CFLA’s success in servicing its members and advocating for the industry is only possible through the valuable voluntary contributions made by our many members.”
About the CFLA:
The Canadian Finance & Leasing Association is the only organization advocating the interests of the asset-backed financing, vehicle and equipment leasing industry in Canada. Through the CFLA, members help shape the industry’s future within the competitive financial services sector.
Established in 1993 through the merger of the Canadian Automotive Leasing Association and the Equipment Lessors Association of Canada, the CFLA grew from 61 member companies to over 200 today across Canada.