Blog Article

A conversation over coffee: an interview with Eric White

Mar 10, 2023

Learn more about COMPLY™ President Eric White, his perspective on the industry and plans for future growth.

Name: Eric White 

Title: President 

Years with the COMPLY™ company: Since Dec. 1, 2022. 

As a recent addition to the COMPLY executive leadership team, tell us a little about yourself and your history.  

My wife and I have two daughters, a Ragdoll cat and a Goldendoodle puppy.  We spent 16 years in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Denver in 2011 to lead a CAT/Trimble joint venture.  I spent the last three and a half years as chief operating officer (COO) at Emburse, a spend management company. It was tough to leave, but I’m very happy to be at COMPLY.  

What made you want to join COMPLY? 

The compliance market is fragmented with innovative solutions that require improved scale in order to fully meet chief compliance officer (CCO) needs.  COMPLY has strong financial backing and an ambition to be the first call for regulatory compliance, a feat which requires leadership dedicated to building the strong culture needed to scale through rapid growth.  I find that both an exciting opportunity and a nice personal fit.  

What are some of the best things or high points you have seen since joining COMPLY? 

There is a spirit here where individuals sincerely want to do well. It’s not like that everywhere. Our teams bring an extraordinary amount of domain knowledge about the regulatory environment, which is incredibly valued here.  That, paired with the ambition to do well, is a powerful combination.  

What is your goal for COMPLY in the next six months? What about the next 12 months?  

To grow a culture which builds great solutions AND an amazing customer experience. That requires focus, clarity on where we are headed and knowledge of what’s most important right now. It also includes structures which empower quality decision making as close to the CCO as possible. It requires employee training, skill building and accountability. That’s my focus right now.  

It’s safe to say the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have been fairly active recently. Based on historical precedent, times of economic uncertainty typically lead to increased regulatory activity. How is COMPLY working to meet that pace of change from the regulators? 

COMPLY participates in the rule-making process by providing feedback to the SEC. We’re also developing new consulting services to help our customers adapt, while simultaneously investing in our core software products to keep up with new requirements.  Staying in front of the regulatory change curve is a big part of what we do.    

From your perspective, what differentiates COMPLY within the marketplace? Why should customers come to us? 

We are trusted by thousands of CCOs. We have differentiated solutions and we are committed to staying ahead of the regulatory curve. Not everyone we compete against has the capability to follow through on that promise.  We are a group of highly competent teams always seeking to do the right thing.    

Finally, what is your go-to coffee order? 

Chai Tea.  Coffee smells great, but it’s not my thing.