Shakeup for Sun Life's execs, groups

Sun Life Financial Inc.’s US division today announced the creation of a new group and a change in its leadership. The company will create a new distribution group, SLF US Distribution Group, a combination of the employee benefits distribution and annuity wholesale groups. Through this new entity, Sun Life hopes to meld best distribution processes and practices from both divisions. The wholesale group, Sun Life Financial Distributors Inc., will also change. Kevin Hart, president of that division, will part ways with the company on March 31. Michael Shunney, currently senior vice president and general manager of the employee benefits group will lead the new combined organization. He has been with the company since 1994, and most recently oversaw Sun Life’s acquisition of Genworth’s Employee Benefits Group last year. Sun Life also appointed Janet Whitehouse to the post of senior vice president and general manager, SLF Employee Benefits Group. Prior to the promotion, she was the senior vice president, human resources and public relations for Sun Life Financial US. Ms. Whitehouse has spent the last year integrating Genworth’s EBG business into Sun Life, following the acquisition.