Sun Life Financial Inc. Announces Leadership Changes for Sun Life Canada

Kevin Strain, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sun Life, has announced leadership changes to Sun Life Canada that will continue to drive the company's strong momentum. Jacques Goulet is assuming a new role as Executive Chair, Sun Life Canada, and Jessica Tan will succeed him as President, Sun Life Canada. These changes are effective September 30, 2024. 

In his new role, Mr. Goulet will support a smooth leadership transition and help deliver on key elements of our enterprise strategy. Mr. Goulet will also continue as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Dialogue, Sun Life Canada’s leading virtual care business, and in his leadership role as Chair of the Board for the Canadian Life & Health Insurance Association.

Since joining Sun Life in 2018, Mr. Goulet has led the organization through significant growth and transformation. He is a purpose-driven leader focused on delivering innovation within the business and industry. In his time as President of Sun Life Canada, he has focused on helping Clients to achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives through initiatives that include the creation of a Client Experience Office, launch of Sun Life Health, and the launches of Sun Life One Plan and Prospr by Sun Life. Mr. Goulet has a passion for mental health which is evident both through his activism in the business community to make mental health a priority in the workplace and his commitment to improving access to mental health care in Canada.

Ms. Tan brings extensive global experience in insurance and digital innovation to Sun Life Canada. She has spent her career in leadership roles across financial services and is widely recognized for her thought leadership and execution in digital transformation and health. Most recently, Ms. Tan was co-CEO of one of Asia's largest insurers, where she was also previously the Group COO and CIO. Prior to that Ms. Tan was a partner at McKinsey where she worked in over 13 countries. She holds a Master of Engineering and Computer Science from MIT.

“Jacques has built a culture at Sun Life that fosters creativity and challenges the team to go even further while leveraging an owner’s mindset. His leadership has resulted in Sun Life delivering positive and sustainable impact in Canadians’ lives. I look forward to working with him closely in his new role,” said Kevin Strain, President and CEO, Sun Life. “I am excited to have Jessica join Sun Life’s Executive Team and lead the Sun Life Canada business. Jessica brings unique skills and capabilities to Sun Life and most importantly, she is a great fit for our culture with a proven track record of having a Client-focused mindset.”

​Ms. Tan is an active member of the global business community and has been recognized as one of Forbes’ The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women since 2019 and held a Top 5 ranking on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women for five consecutive years, 2019 – 2023. She sits on several global boards and advisory committees. Ms. Tan is passionate about healthcare and elderly home care, and has volunteered with the Singapore public healthcare ecosystem to help accelerate the use of technology and online healthcare services, as well as how to provide an integrated wellness, medical and social services at scale for the elderly living at home in the community.