GC Influencers
Most Influential GCs - Canada
Melissa Kennedy of Sun Life Financial, Inc
Melissa Kennedy is the Executive Vice-President, Chief Legal Officer & Public Affairs at Sun Life Financial and is widely regarded both as a pioneer within the insurance industry and as a champion for diversity. Moreover, she is recognised for her work relating to the inclusion of environmental social governance structures in corporate behaviour. Kennedy joined Sun Life in 2014, the year in which the company became the first major Canadian life insurer to sign on to the United Nations supported Principles for Responsible Investment.
She is also a founding member of Legal Leaders for Diversity, a group of Canadian GCs who promote diversity and inclusion in the legal community. In her role as GC, Kennedy is responsible for the company’s global legal, compliance, corporate secretarial and public affairs functions.
Prior to joining Sun Life, Ms. Kennedy was the Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Affairs at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, a position which saw her both oversee major transactions as well as influence the expansion of OTPP. She is also the former head of the prosecution team at the Ontario Securities Commission.