Sun Life Financial Inc. announced several executive changes on Friday, including the appointment of a new president of Sun Life Financial Canada.

Effective January 1, 2010, Dean A. Connor, currently president of Sun Life Financial Canada, will become chief operating officer at parent company Sun Life Financial. He will assume responsibility for MFS Investment Management, enterprise services, and human resources. Connor also retains oversight for SLF Canada and SLF Reinsurance. He will continue to report to Donald Stewart, CEO of Sun Life Financial.

Kevin P. Dougherty will move into the role of president of SLF Canada, assuming operating responsibility for SLF Canada and SLF Reinsurance. He will report to Connor. Dougherty also retains his current role as president of Sun Life Global Investments, including responsibility for Sun Life’s International Investment Centre and McLean Budden.

The changes are part of Sun Life’s effort to leverage its leadership strength more broadly across the company, according to Stewart.

“Leveraging our leadership capabilities across our operations is a core part of Sun Life’s enterprise strategy,” he said. “These appointments will expand the line of sight these senior leaders have across our diverse operations and further deepen our management bench strength.”

The company also announced that Jon A. Boscia, president of Sun Life Financial, will assume responsibility for SLF Asia and SLF U.K., in addition to his current enterprise responsibilities for marketing and for the investments function that oversees the management of the company’s invested assets. He will also retain oversight for SLF U.S. and SLF Bermuda, and will continue to report to Stewart.

In addition, Westley V. Thompson, president of Sun Life Financial U.S., will assume responsibility for all aspects of the company’s U.S. operations, excluding MFS. He will continue to report to Jon Boscia. This broadens Thompson’s existing role that currently consists of responsibility for the company’s three insurance business lines and certain functional activities.

“The strength of these senior leaders and our other top talent will continue to serve us well as we emerge from the current economic conditions and take advantage of opportunities for sustained growth,” Stewart said.