Insurers embrace automated underwriting

Toronto-based Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada reinforced its commitment to data, analytics and other digital tools on Friday, with the appointment of Stevan Lewis to the newly created position of senior vice president of digital transformation.

In his new role, Lewis – who was previously senior vice president and chief technology officer at Sun Life – will be responsible for shaping the life insurer’s vision and enterprise strategy for digital, data and analytics.

“I’m thrilled to take on this role at such an exciting time for both Sun Life and our industry,” Lewis said in a statement. “Data is the new currency and the forces of change — demographics, technology, client expectations, external partnerships, and market disruptors — are all moving at an unprecedented speed. I look forward to finding opportunities to augment our client ecosystem to adapt faster than ever as we keep redefining what it means to be relevant with our clients.”

Lewis has been with Sun Life since 2009, and previously, he held various executive positions with Toronto-based Bank of Montreal.

Lewis will report to Mark Saunders, executive vice president and chief information officer.

“We’ve had tremendous success in making it easier for clients to connect with Sun Life using innovative technologies to enhance their experiences and we have exciting opportunities ahead to further tap into data to differentiate their future experiences with us,” said Saunders in a statement. “I look forward to working closely with [Lewis] on this global transformation of our business.”

The appointment is the latest step by Sun Life to advance its digital strategy. In late August, the company announced the launch of a new mobile life insurance application, called Sun Life GO, which lets clients apply for various insurance products on their smartphones or tablets.

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