Sun Life Investment Management announced the appointment of Elaad Keren as Senior Managing Director and Head of Mid Markets Lending, Sun Life Investment Management. Keren will be responsible for sourcing and approving investment opportunities within North America, as well as driving innovation and differentiation within his team supporting the Mid-Market portfolio, with an expanded mandate that includes Private Securitization. Keren will lead a team of 18 investment professionals across North America.

In addition, the team announced Jeff Mayer will take on an expanded role as Managing Director, Head of Private Securitization Finance to its Canadian Private Fixed Income business.

“We are delighted to welcome Elaad and Jeff to their new roles within the Private Fixed Income business at Sun Life Investment Management,” said Candy Shaw, Senior Managing Director and Head of Private Fixed Income, Sun Life Investment Management. “Their extensive background and leadership experience in the industry will not only help enhance our team and add value for our Clients, but will also position us well to drive further growth in both Canada and the U.S.”

Keren’s role as Senior Managing Director and Head of Mid Markets Lending, will replace Keith Cressman, Senior Managing Director, Head of Private Debt, Sun Life Investment Management. After a long and successful 35-year career in the industry, Cressman will be retiring effective Sept. 1, 2019.

Keren brings 15 years of experience to the role. He was previously with CWB Maxium Financial where he was a member of the senior management team responsible for the strategic and operational success of the organization and directly led a team of credit professionals. Prior to that, Keren was Senior Director, Private Fixed Income at Sun Life for seven years helping to build and maintain relationships with key financial intermediaries throughout North America, where he sourced, negotiated and closed Canadian/U.S. unrated middle market senior corporate loans and co-managed a portfolio of private equity funds.

Based in Sun Life’s Toronto office, Keren will join Sun Life Investment Management’s Private Fixed Income business on June 17 and will report to Shaw.

In Mayer’s expanded position as Managing Director, Head of Private Securitization Finance, he is responsible for oversight of the origination, structuring, funding and monitoring of the North American private securitization assets, as well as business development to grow the asset class through North America. With 16 years of progressive experience helping to manage Sun Life Investment Management’s Private Fixed Income business, Mayer is well-positioned to help continue to build the firm’s investment income and better serve its Clients.

Based in Sun Life’s Waterloo, Ontario, office, Mayer will report directly to Keren.