Exhibit 99.1

News release via Canada NewsWire, Toronto 416-863-9350

	    Attention Business Editors:
	    Sun Life Financial announces Executive appointments

	    TORONTO, Dec. 4 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX/NYSE: SLF) today
announced new appointments for several senior executives to leverage its
leadership strength more broadly across the Company.
	    "Leveraging our leadership capabilities across our operations is a core
part of Sun Life's enterprise strategy," said Donald A. Stewart, Chief
Executive Officer. "These appointments will expand the line of sight these
senior leaders have across our diverse operations and further deepen our
management bench strength."
	    Effective January 1, 2010, the following appointments take effect:

	    <<
	    -  Jon A. Boscia, President, Sun Life Financial, assumes 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 Donald Stewart. Mr. Boscia is a successful leader with deep
	       management experience in financial services. He joined Sun Life in
	       2008.

	    -  Dean A. Connor, currently President, Sun Life Financial Canada,
	       becomes Chief Operating Officer, Sun Life Financial. He assumes
	       responsibility for MFS Investment Management, Enterprise Services, and
	       Human Resources. Mr. Connor also retains oversight for SLF Canada and
	       SLF Reinsurance. He will continue to report to Donald Stewart. Mr.
	       Connor joined the Company in 2006 and has significant executive and
	       international industry experience at Sun Life and from previous top
	       leadership positions at Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

	    -  Kevin P. Dougherty is appointed President, SLF Canada, assuming
	       operating responsibility for SLF Canada and SLF Reinsurance. He will
	       report to Dean Connor. Mr. Dougherty also retains his current role as
	       President, Sun Life Global Investments (SLGI), including
	       responsibility for Sun Life's International Investment Centre and
	       McLean Budden. Mr. Dougherty has extensive experience across
	       protection and wealth businesses and has held a number of key
	       leadership roles since joining Sun Life in 1994.

	    -  Westley V. Thompson, President, Sun Life Financial U.S., assumes
	       responsibility for all aspects of the Company's U.S. operations,
	       excluding MFS. He will continue to report to Jon Boscia. This broadens
	       Mr. Thompson's existing role that currently consists of responsibility
	       for the Company's three insurance business lines and certain
	       functional activities. He has a strong background in building
	       insurance businesses, and since joining Sun Life in 2008 has been
	       instrumental in setting the renewed strategic direction for SLF U.S.
	    >>

	    "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," Mr. Stewart
concluded.

	    About Sun Life Financial

	    Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services
organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation
products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in
1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets
worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland,
Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Bermuda. As of
September 30, 2009, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets
under management of CDN$412 billion. For more information please visit
www.sunlife.com.
	    Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and
Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

	    %CIK: 0001097362

	    /For further information: Media Relations Contact: Frank Switzer,
Vice-President, Corporate Communications, Tel: (416) 979-4086,
frank.switzer(at)sunlife.com; Investor Relations Contact: Paul Petrelli,
Vice-President, Investor Relations, Tel: (416) 204-8163,
investor.relations(at)sunlife.com/
	    (SLF. SLF)

CO:  Sun Life Financial Inc.

CNW 11:00e 04-DEC-09