Canada Life is shuffling its senior executive line-up to allow for the promotion of Bill Acton. Effective August 8, Acton, executive vice president and director, Canadian division becomes president and chief operating officer of Canada Life Financial Corp. and The Canada Life Assurance Co. He was also elected a director of both companies.

David Nield, chairman, president and CEO becomes chairman and CEO. At the same time, Robert Smithen, executive vice president, will take on special projects and has announced he will retire on April 30, 2003.

Acton, an actuary, joined Canada Life on Sept. 8, 1975. He has been a senior officer of the company since 1992. His first senior assignment was in Ireland, where he was directly involved with the purchase and integration of Abbey Life.

Acton returned to Canada in 1997 and became executive vice president, Canadian division.

“Bill is well positioned to help Canada Life achieve our major strategic objectives in the areas of growth, profitability, return on equity, customer focus and high performance environment,” said Nield in a news release.