Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada has announced it will take full ownership of Buffett & Company Worksite Wellness Inc.
The two organizations have been in partnership since late 2008 and this move to become one is by no means in reaction to the the recent passing of Ed Buffet, founder and CEO of Buffet & Company, says Lori Casselman, assistant vice-president, health and wellness, with Sun Life. “He was very involved in the development of this relationship and certainly very involved in the last year or so with the activities leading up to this point.”
“Buffett & Company has a stellar reputation and we are proud to add its industry-leading capabilities to Sun Life,” said Stuart Monteith, senior vice-president, group benefits, with Sun Life Financial Canada. “Health is an important issue in business today. This acquisition will put Sun Life at the forefront of the workplace wellness movement, enabling us to deliver leading edge programs and services to help employers create healthier, more productive workplaces.”
Janet Young, head of Buffett & Company, added, “We are pleased to be joining Sun Life as we have a shared commitment to improving the health of Canadian employees. [We’ve] had a strong relationship for many years through our founder Ed Buffett, a visionary in the worksite wellness business. Ed built Buffett & Company into a leading provider of these programs in Canada.”
Although Buffet & Company employees will now be Sun Life employees, the office in Whitby, Ont. will be maintained for the foreseeable future.
The deal is pending regulatory approval and customary closing activities. No time line has been given as to when the approval is expected.