TORONTO - Sun Life Financial Inc. announced the appointment of Stephen C. Peacher as Executive Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer, effective October 13, 2009.

Mr. Peacher joins Sun Life Financial with over twenty years of credit and investment management experience in North American and international markets. He has extensive experience managing investment teams, portfolios and research across a wide range of assets, including public and structured bonds, investment-grade and high-yield corporates, emerging markets, and short-term instruments.

Mr. Peacher was most recently Managing Director, Head of Fixed Income and Liquidity Strategies at Columbia Management, responsible for investment strategy, development and performance for the firm's large fixed income and cash portfolios.

Donald A. Stewart, Chief Executive Officer, Sun Life Financial said, "Steve has an impressive background in managing credit and bond portfolios that make him an excellent choice as our new Chief Investment Officer. He brings a disciplined and results-oriented approach which is a strong match with the strengths and discipline of our investments team."

As Chief Investment Officer, Mr. Peacher will be responsible for Sun Life's invested asset portfolio, which had assets of $108 billion at June 30, 2009. He succeeds previous Chief Investment Officer, James M.A. Anderson, who retired from the Company earlier this year. Steve will be a member of the Company's Executive Team and be co-located at Sun Life's global headquarters in Toronto and its U.S. head office in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts.