Sun Life International has been named Bermuda’s best boss, in this year’s Royal Gazette Top 10 Employer Awards, presented by PwC.

The winners were announced today during a breakfast at the Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club on Pitts Bay Road in Pembroke.

Jonathan Howes, the chief executive of Bermuda Press Holdings, presented the prizes, saying: “It is a real accomplishment to be in the Top 10.”

He said recognition like this within the community served to reinforce the hard work by management and the inclusive culture they fostered among their employees.

“The top employer is always singled out by their exceptional scoring on the Global Research survey of employees. It makes you wonder, what is their secret?”

Donna Cotter, Sun Life International CEO, said: “This accolade is a testament to the incredible culture we have built together — one that values our people, fosters collaboration and celebrates our shared successes.

“It reflects the hard work, passion and dedication of our amazing team, who make Sun Life International a great place to work every day.”

Sun Life serves clients in more than 80 countries, supplying life insurance solutions to high-net-worth customers. Formed in 1996, SLI is a part of Sun Life, a global Fortune 500 company with $1.3 trillion in assets under management.

Employees called Sun Life the “best company I have worked for” and a “fantastic organisation”.

A focus on professional development was also mentioned. Continuing performance conversations through the year are tied not only to business goals, but also to individual development plans. The company practises succession planning, offering employees a path of advancement and mentorship to help them achieve their potential.

Cambridge Beaches was runner-up in the scheme. The Sandys resort has been in operation for more than a century and has 161 employees – by far the largest payroll of all the employers in the RG Top 10.

About 80 per cent of staff members have more than five years of tenure. Employees also mentioned a supportive and stable work environment.

This year’s diversity award, sponsored by the BHRA, went to Frontier.

The Royal Gazette‘s commercial director, Michael Grier, said: “When the winners were called, shock and awe are the only words to describe the table when they realised what had just happened.”