Sun Life Financial's Mary De Paoli and Isabelle Hudon named Canada's Most Powerful Women

TORONTO, Dec. 3, 2013 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) is pleased to announce that Mary De Paoli, Executive Vice-President, Public & Corporate Affairs and Chief Marketing Officer, and Isabelle Hudon, President of Sun Life Financial, Quebec, are recipients of the Women's Executive Network's (WXN) 2013 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards. These Awards celebrate and highlight the professional achievements of women across the country in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

"Mary and Isabelle are dedicated and determined businesswomen who have won the respect and admiration of both the business community and the Sun Life family. Their passion, insight, knowledge and engagement are all hallmarks of these exceptional leaders," said Dean Connor, President & CEO, Sun Life Financial.

Mary De Paoli is accountable for brand, digital, marketing, philanthropy and public and corporate affairs functions globally, and for leading the company's focus on customers. Highly regarded as a dynamic and inspirational leader, Mary joined Sun Life Financial in 1999, rising to the role of Executive Vice-President in 2012. Previously, Mary steered our Canadian Group Retirement Services division into the #1 market share position, which Sun Life Financial has retained. She was named to Canada's Top 40 under 40 in 2002 and chosen as Strategy Magazine's Marketer of the Year in 2012.

Isabelle Hudon is the first to occupy the position of President, Sun Life Financial, Quebec. She is responsible for shaping and leading our ambitious growth strategy in Quebec. On top of championing ways to increase the number of women on corporate boards as a member of the Table des partenaires influents and the Advisory Council for Promoting Women on Boards, she is also a board member at Hydro-Québec, Turquoise Hill Resources, and Holt Renfrew Canada—all while leading Sun Life Financial Quebec's 1800 employees.

"Both Mary and Isabelle are true industry leaders, serving as excellent examples for women who aspire to leadership positions. It is a pleasure to see these leaders recognized for their hard work and ongoing commitment to our customers, employees and other stakeholders," said Connor.

This year's Top 100 Leadership Summit and Awards Gala hosted by WXN on December 4 is appropriately themed "What Glass Ceiling?" Over 1,100 attendees will honour the 2013 Top 100 Award winners at the Gala dinner where the keynote speech will be delivered by Dr. Roberta Bondar, who shattered the glass ceiling when she became the first Canadian female astronaut and neurologist in space aboard NASA's 1992 space shuttle Discovery.

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 September 30, 2013 the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $590 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.