TORONTO and WELLESLEY HILLS, MA, Feb. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) ("SLF", the "Company") today announced that Wes Thompson, President, SLF U.S., is retiring from the Company and will be succeeded by Dan Fishbein, M.D., a 25-year veteran in the employee benefits and group life insurance industries.

Dr. Fishbein will join Sun Life Financial on March 17, 2014 and become President, SLF U.S., upon Mr. Thompson's retirement from the Company on April 1, 2014, ensuring a smooth transition of leadership.

"Dan has an excellent track record of delivering earnings growth across a range of businesses and a commitment to customer service. I am pleased to welcome him to Sun Life Financial and to our executive team," said Dean Connor, President and CEO, Sun Life Financial.

Dr. Fishbein joins Sun Life Financial from Aetna, where he most recently served as President, Specialty Businesses, with U.S.-wide responsibility for several industry-leading group benefits and voluntary businesses, including the company's group life insurance business.  He is a graduate of the School of Medicine at Boston University.

Mr. Thompson joined Sun Life Financial in 2008 and led the Company's U.S. operations through the successful sale of its annuity business and the transformation of its group benefits, life insurance and international high net worth businesses.

"I want to thank Wes for his outstanding service to the Company and to our U.S. customers," Connor said. "Under his leadership, Sun Life has significantly reduced its risk profile in the U.S. and is well-positioned for further growth in our group benefits and voluntary business, a key pillar in our enterprise strategy."

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. 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 December 31, 2013, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $640 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.