Waterloo, Ont.-based Sun Life Financial (Canada) Inc. has named Dean Chambers as vice president of its individual life insurance division. With more than 20 years of experience working in individual protection, Chambers will focus on developing the pricing and features of Sun Life’s individual products, such as term and permanent life insurance, critical illness and long-term care insurance. Prior to joining Sun Life, Chambers spent the bulk of his career with Winnipeg-based Great-West Lifeco Inc. and its various subsidiaries, for which he held a number of roles from 1992 to 2009. His most recent role at GWL was heading the individual wealth division, focusing on developing retirement products and pricing for firms such as Winnipeg-based Great-West Life Assurance Co., London, Ont.-based London Life Insurance Co. and Toronto-based Canada Life Assurance Co.

Russell welcomes Vallée

Toronto-based Russell Investments Canada Ltd. has appointed Thierry Vallée as portfolio manager and head of Canadian equities. As leader of the Canadian equities division, Vallée will oversee the securities selection and portfolio managers of the firm’s equities and dividend portfolios. Vallée, with more than 18 years of experience in equities research and managing various types of assets, was formerly an investment research analyst with TD Harbour Capital, the private portfolio-management arm of Toronto-based TD Asset Management Inc., a subsidiary of Toronto-Dominion Bank.

First West promotes Besse

Langley, B.C.-based First West Credit Union has named Shelley Besse as president of Envision Financial, the credit union’s investment and insurance arm. Formerly senior vice president of operations, sales and member experience for First West, Besse will focus on developing client relationships and awareness for the Envision brand within local communities. Since joining First West as a service representative in 1984, Besse has held a number of senior roles, including branch manager, manager of financial planning and assistant vice president of branch operations. In 2009, Besse also helped lead First West through its merger with Envision Financial and Penticton, B.C.-based Valley First Credit Union. First West has $6.2 billion in assets under administration and 167,000 members.

Leroux re-elected

Monique Leroux has been re-elected for a second term as chairwoman, president and CEO of Desjardins Group, a financial co-operative based in Lévis, Que. First elected in March 2008, Leroux’s second mandate will end in 2016. Leroux will continue focusing on Desjardins’ expansion within Quebec as well as across Canada. She also will continue to develop the firm’s Co-opme education and co-operation program, which focuses on developing internships as well as education and training within the co-operatives. (For more on Leroux, see story on page 6.)

Compiled by Olivia Glauberzon
(oglauberzon@investmentexecutive.com).