SunLife has announced a new senior appointment.

Simon Stanney has joined the business as general insurance director and will head up SunLife’s emerging general insurance distribution business.

Stanney has 23 years of industry experience having held senior insurance positions at HSBC, RAC, Ageas and Castle Cover.

He is spearheading SunLife’s upcoming launch of pet insurance and home insurance (launching early September), the first time SunLife has entered the general insurance market.

He said: “I’m delighted to be joining such a progressive and customer focused business and I am confident that our new general insurance products will resonate strongly with both existing and new to brand customers.”

Dean Lamble, SunLife’s managing director, added: “SunLife’s transformation into a true retail financial services brand is well underway. The appointment of Simon, coming on the back of the appointment of other senior industry figures such as Emma Walker from MoneySupermarket and Mark Jones from LV= is testament to our commitment to broaden our reach and appeal across customer segments and products lines.”