Sun Life Financial Inc. said Monday that Kevin Dougherty is taking over as head of its Canadian operations, replacing Robert Astley, who is retiring.

Dougherty, currently executive vice president of Sun Life Financial’s Canadian group benefits and group retirement services businesses, will take over as president of Sun Life Financial Canada, effective Sept. 6.

Dougherty joined Sun Life Financial in 1994 as vice president, group marketing and sales and became VP, group insurance in 1996, after holding several leadership positions in the Canadian insurance industry. He has an MBA (International) from the Rotman Business School, University of Toronto.

Donald Stewart, Sun Life Financial CEO, said Dougherty played a key in the integration of Sun Life Financial’s Canadian operations and Clarica Life Insurance Co. to create SLF “I am confident Kevin will build on the strong business platform that’s been forged and take it even further as we continue to enhance everything we do to serve our customers better and deliver sustainable value to our shareholders,” Stewart said in a release.

Before being named president of SLF Canada in May 2002, Astley was president and CEO of Clarica, which was merged with Sun Life Financial’s Canadian operations in 2002. At Sun Life Financial, Astley was responsible for the successful integration of the two organizations – one of the largest integrations in Canadian business history – completed at the end of 2003.