Six weeks after leaving Marketel, Isabelle Hudon has begun the next phase of her career–president of Sun Life Financial‘s Quebec operations.
Hudon left Marketel in June after reportedly being “rather unhappy” at the end of an 18-month tenure as president of the Montreal-based agency.
Yesterday saw the former Canadian Space Agency and BCE Media executive take the reins at Sun Life as it attempts to build on its third-place position in its province of origin (though the company’s head office moved to Toronto in 1978).
Following a six-month “rigourous” search, Kevin Dougherty, president, Sun Life Financial Canada, said that Hudon emerged at the top of the list as a well-respected business leader.
“She’s very savvy and passionate,” Dougherty said. “She has incredible integrity, and is a great listener and collaborator.”
Dougherty sees Hudon’s role as one of building on Sun Life’s successes with existing lines of business–insurance and investment services. The company has about 1.5 million Quebec customers, more than $1 billion in premium revenue in insurance, manages approximately $7 billion in retirement savings and runs a network of approximately 700 financial advisors.
“In the post-financial crisis world people are looking for security and we see our brand as very closely aligned with that,” said Dougherty. “This is a story to tell loudly and broadly in Quebec.”
Globally, Sun Life manages $434 billion in assets, and has been expanding its brand in international markets with high-visibility marketing moves. Just ahead of last February’s Super Bowl, for example, it became the naming sponsor of the Miami stadium hosting the event.
Despite its growing international footprint, Dougherty believes strength in the home markets is key to the company’s continued success.
“One needs to be very successful in their home market in order to be successful anywhere else,” Dougherty said. “We see opportunities around the world… But being a leader at home in Canada is job one.”
“Joining Sun Life Financial is a unique opportunity for me to be part of a strong organization in Quebec with a commitment to expansion in the coming years,” said Hudon, in a statement. “I look forward to the challenge of my new role, and to working with our Quebec team to continue to build Sun Life’s business and profile in the province.”
