Board of Directors

Mr. Donald A. Stewart graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1968 with first class honours in Natural Philosophy. He joined Sun Life Financial in 1969 in London, England, and qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in 1972. In 1974, he left the Company to pursue a career in benefits consulting, ultimately joining William M. Mercer in Toronto. Mr. Stewart rejoined Sun Life Financial in 1980 with overall responsibility for the Canadian pension division, where he led six years of rapid growth. In 1986, Mr. Stewart led the project team to launch the Company’s Canadian mutual fund operation. From 1987 to 1992, Mr. Stewart held overall responsibility for information Technology at Sun Life Financial. During this period, he completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. As Chief Executive Officer of Sun Life Financial’s trust operations from 1992 through 1995, Mr. Stewart restored profitability via re-structuring and re-engineering. In May 1995, Mr. Stewart was appointed Senior Vice–President & Chief Actuary. His appointment as President & Chief Operating Officer followed in 1996. Mr. Stewart was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company in April 1998. Then, in March 2000, he led the demutualization of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada with the successful IPO of Sun Life Financial on the Toronto, New York and Philippine stock exchanges. He is a member of the Board of MFS Investment Management and Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.).

Mr. Birla is a Chartered Accountant and has also earned an MBA (Masters in Business Administration) from the London Business School, London.   He is the Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, which is among India's largest business houses. Among its major companies in India are Grasim, Hindalco, UltraTech Cement, Aditya Birla Nuvo and Idea Cellular and globally — Novelis, Minacs, Aditya Birla Minerals, Aditya Birla Chemicals. Its JV operations include Birla Sun Life Asset Management Company, Birla Sun Life Distribution Co. Ltd and Birla Sun Life Insurance Co. Ltd. The media has showered various accolades on him. Between 1997 to-date, India Today has named him among the top 5 in their "High and Mighty" Power List and The Economic Times - among the top 10 most influential Leaders. The NDTV, Star Plus "India Business Week" designated him as "The Businessman of the Year". Global Finance has cited him among the 10 Super Stars of Corporate Finance. Business World ranked him among the top 10 of India's most admired and respected CEOs and the top CEO of the coming millennium, and Hindustan Times named him as "The Businessman of the Year" as well. He is also on the Board of various companies.

Mr. Srinivasan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours in Economics from St. Stephens College, University of Delhi and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He is the Chief Executive, Financial Services and Director, Corporate Strategy and Business Development at the Aditya Birla Group since July 2007. In his role as Chief Executive, Financial Services, Aditya Birla Group, he sets the strategic direction and vision and provides operational leadership for the Group’s Financial Services business. In his role as Director, Corporate Strategy and Business Development, he directs and strategies on business portfolio issues for the Aditya Birla Group focusing on the long-term sustainability, profitability and value creation of the Group’s businesses. Prior to joining the Aditya Birla Group, Mr. Ajay Srinivasan was associated with Prudential Corporation Asia, Threadneedle Asset Management, etc. at senior levels. With a proven track record for building successful businesses, his experience in the financial services industry spans almost two decades.

Mr. Puranmalka is a commerce and law graduate and also a Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and Institute of Company Secretaries of India.  He is the Director of Aditya Birla Group’s Financial Services and has a total working experience of more than 45 years.  He has been associated with the Aditya Birla Group in various capacities since the inception of his career. He has a rich experience in implementation and running of several manufacturing, training, service industry business and setting up Greenfield manufacturing operations.  He is on the Board of various companies.

"Mr. Dikran Ohannessian completed his Harvard University Program for Management Development at the Harvard University after a degree in Science (mathematics) from McGill University. He joined as the President of Sun Life Financial Asia in January 2010 and is responsible for the Asia Regional Office and for Sun Life’s joint venture interests in India and China. Dikran joined Sun Life Financial in 1976 and has held numerous leadership positions within the organization. He has successfully led Individual insurance and Group Benefits businesses in Canada. He established and oversaw the joint venture life insurance operations in China. He has worked in several markets including Canada, China, Hong Kongand Philippines amongst others. Mr.  Dikran  is  well-versed  with  various  facets  of the life insurance business  including  individual,  group  benefits,  financial planning and analysis,  integration, corporate restructuring, shared services and joint ventures;  as  well  as  the asset management company operations. Prior to assuming  leadership  position,  he worked in the individual life business with  special  areas  of focus being underwriting, policy issue and policy administration.  In  Group  Benefits,  he  worked  in large case sales and underwriting  as  well as Group Actuarial. He has led various functions in Sun  Life Financial, including the role of CFO of the Canadian operations; the successful integration of Clarica Life Insurance Company (Canada); the launch  of Shared Services; the demutualization of the Company; review and strengthening  and  business  practices. He has also served terms on joint ventures  (JVs) such as SNS Shared Health Network Services Ltd., Preferred Vision  Services;  Dental  Maintenance  Organisation and Sun Life Benefits Management Company amongst others.

Mr. Gupta holds a Masters in Commerce from University of Delhi. He is a director on the Board of the Company and is the independent director on the Board of Aditya Birla Nuvo Limited (holding company of BSLI).  He is also a member of the Audit Committee, Finance Committee and Share Allotment Committee of the Company. Mr. Gian Prakash Gupta has been the former Chairman and Managing Director of Industrial Development Bank of India & Chairman of Unit Trust of India. He has wide and rich experience in Project Financing including Infrastructure projects, Capital Market, Financial Management and General Management. He is on the Board of various companies.

Mr. Talwar is a commerce graduate and has done his L.L.B.  He practices as a solicitor. He is a partner of M/s Talwar, Thakore & Associates, a law firm he has founded in partnership with Shobhan Thakore. He was also associated with M/s. Crawford Bayley & Company prior to his forming his firm of Advocates. He also acts as a legal counsel to numerous Indian companies, multinational corporations, Indian & foreign banks. His professional specialisation is in corporate law, corporate tax, foreign exchange laws, Monopolies & Restrictive Trade Practices laws, & international issue of securities by Indian companies. He also holds the directorship in several eminent public & private limited companies.

Mr. Mysore holds a BA with Honours in Economics and an MBA from University of Madras. He also holds the professional designation of Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) – American College, Philadelphia, PA. He is the Vice-President and Country Head, India of Sun Life Financial-Asia since January, 2007.  Prior to this, Mr. Mysore was the CEO & Managing Director of MetLife India. He was responsible for the start-up of the India venture. Mr. Mysore spent over 21 years with MetLife.  He immigrated to the U.S.A. in 1985 and joined MetLife as a sales representative.  Since then, he held several positions of increasing responsibility within MetLife. Mr. Mysore was the Chairman of The American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) – Bangalore Chapter for the year 2002 – 2003.  Several new members were inducted during his tenure. The AMCHAM invitational Golf Tournament was one of the many well-appreciated events rolled-out under his leadership. Other noteworthy contributions included arranging interactive sessions with key industry leaders and academicians as well as community and social drives. He was also a member of the Executive Committee of AMCHAM Bangalore. He is currently a member of the Young Presidents Organisation – Mumbai Chapter.