Mark Sylvia has been appointed president and CEO of Empire Life, effective June 2, 2014. He’ll succeed Les Herr, who will be stepping down as CEO at the end of May.

“Mr. Sylvia has an impressive track record of leading and growing mid-sized and specialty insurance companies in Canada by focusing on service, simplicity and strategic partnerships,” says Mr. Duncan Jackman, chairman, CEO and president of E-L Financial Corporation Limited.

Sylvia comes to Empire Life from his current role as president of Clarity Underwriting Managers Inc., an insurance consultancy firm he founded in 2010.