Sun Life Financial announces new General Counsel

TORONTO, May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. SLF SLF ("SLF", the "Company") today announced the appointment of Melissa Kennedy as Executive Vice-President and General Counsel.  Kennedy replaces Tom Bogart, who is retiring from the Company at the end of June. Kennedy, who will join Sun Life on June 16, will lead the Company's enterprise legal, compliance and corporate secretarial functions.

"Melissa has a strong and diverse background with experience in private practice, regulatory and in-house roles at financial institutions. I am pleased to welcome her to the Sun Life family and to our Executive Team," said Dean Connor, President and CEO, Sun Life Financial.

Kennedy joins Sun Life from the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, where she most recently served as Senior Vice-President, General Counsel and Corporate Affairs. She began her career in private practice and has also worked in the enforcement branch at the Ontario Securities Commission and as Vice-President, Associate General Counsel for a Canadian bank. Kennedy was named Canada's General Counsel of the Year in 2012.

"Tom has been a trusted advisor to the Sun Life executive team and Board, and has been instrumental in helping to shape and steer the company through tremendous growth and change over the past 16 years," Connor said. "We thank him for his many contributions and wish him all the best."

About Sun Life Financial
Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Sun Life Financial and its partners have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2014 the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $671 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.

Note to Editors: All figures in Canadian dollars.

SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.