Sun Life Financial announces Executive appointments

TORONTO , Dec. 4 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX/NYSE: SLF) today announced new appointments for several senior executives to leverage its leadership strength more broadly across the Company.

"Leveraging our leadership capabilities across our operations is a core part of Sun Life's enterprise strategy," said Donald A. Stewart, Chief Executive Officer. "These appointments will expand the line of sight these senior leaders have across our diverse operations and further deepen our management bench strength."

Effective January 1, 2010 , the following appointments take effect:

    
    -  Jon A. Boscia, President, Sun Life Financial, assumes responsibility
       for SLF Asia and SLF U.K., in addition to his current enterprise
       responsibilities for Marketing and for the Investments function that
       oversees the management of the Company's invested assets. He will also
       retain oversight for SLF U.S. and SLF Bermuda, and will continue to
       report to Donald Stewart. Mr. Boscia is a successful leader with deep
       management experience in financial services. He joined Sun Life in
       2008.

    -  Dean A. Connor, currently President, Sun Life Financial Canada,
       becomes Chief Operating Officer, Sun Life Financial. He assumes
       responsibility for MFS Investment Management, Enterprise Services, and
       Human Resources. Mr. Connor also retains oversight for SLF Canada and
       SLF Reinsurance. He will continue to report to Donald Stewart. Mr.
       Connor joined the Company in 2006 and has significant executive and
       international industry experience at Sun Life and from previous top
       leadership positions at Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

    -  Kevin P. Dougherty is appointed President, SLF Canada, assuming
       operating responsibility for SLF Canada and SLF Reinsurance. He will
       report to Dean Connor. Mr. Dougherty also retains his current role as
       President, Sun Life Global Investments (SLGI), including
       responsibility for Sun Life's International Investment Centre and
       McLean Budden. Mr. Dougherty has extensive experience across
       protection and wealth businesses and has held a number of key
       leadership roles since joining Sun Life in 1994.

    -  Westley V. Thompson, President, Sun Life Financial U.S., assumes
       responsibility for all aspects of the Company's U.S. operations,
       excluding MFS. He will continue to report to Jon Boscia. This broadens
       Mr. Thompson's existing role that currently consists of responsibility
       for the Company's three insurance business lines and certain
       functional activities. He has a strong background in building
       insurance businesses, and since joining Sun Life in 2008 has been
       instrumental in setting the renewed strategic direction for SLF U.S.
    

"The strength of these senior leaders and our other top talent will continue to serve us well as we emerge from the current economic conditions and take advantage of opportunities for sustained growth," Mr. Stewart concluded.

About Sun Life Financial

Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada , the United States , the United Kingdom , Ireland , Hong Kong , the Philippines , Japan , Indonesia , India , China and Bermuda . As of September 30, 2009 , the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of CDN$412 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

%CIK: 0001097362

For further information: Media Relations Contact: Frank Switzer, Vice-President, Corporate Communications, Tel: [phone], [email protected]; Investor Relations Contact: Paul Petrelli, Vice-President, Investor Relations, Tel: [phone], [email protected]