Sunlife UK shows how far a little confidence can take you in latest campaign via TBWA\London

March 21 2025, 1:50 pm | BY Ricki Green | No Comments

Forget free pens and cosy, predictable daytime TV ads – from living life ‘au naturale’, competing in jiu-jitsu, or pursuing a passion for wood carving, TBWA\London’s new brand platform for SunLife positions confidence centre stage. The new campaign marks Kiwi expat Creative Director Matt Swinburne’s first major production at TBWA\London.

 

SunLife, one the leading UK financial companies in the over 50’s life insurance sector, has partnered with TBWA\London to create an ambitious brand platform, brought to life in three TV spots. This marks a transformative step in SunLife’s journey to empower its customer demographic to live life with confidence, knowing they’ve made a good choice for their future.

The campaign is TBWA\London’s first major work for SunLife since winning the account in August last year and represents the brand’s most ambitious marketing push since 2017. It signals a bold departure from the kind of traditional, product-focused messaging that has become commonplace in the market, by introducing a fresh and modernised brand platform centred on everyday confidence.



This transformation follows extensive consumer research with over 2,500 people over 45, and reflects SunLife’s commitment to evolving with its audience and their needs. TBWA\London’s trademark disruptive approach hopes to reshape perceptions of the brand, positioning it as a forward-thinking, empowering force in financial services.

Directed by Freddy Mandy, the campaign uses humour to connect with today’s customers. The work follows three individuals’ insurance journeys: from a newly-naturist couple breaking the news to their children, to a self-assured mum mastering jiu-jitsu, to a dad taking his wood-carving passion to the extreme. The campaign highlights how SunLife’s Guaranteed Over 50 Plan empowers policyholders to live confidently and unapologetically.

SunLife offers simple, affordable financial solutions tailored to the needs of people over 50. Its life insurance products – the Guaranteed Over 50 Plan and the Guaranteed Inheritance Plan – provide peace of mind to families across the UK, and its equity release offering enables homeowners to unlock money to make the most of retirement.

Says Swinburne: “If my naked parents sat me down to tell me they had become naturists, I’d be horrified. And I’d need a lot of counseling. But part of me would be impressed too. We’ve had a lot of fun telling stories of the confidence SunLife cover can unlock in your life. It’s been a brilliant journey with our friends at Sunlife, and we’re proud of a campaign that we hope will inspire our over 50s to start living their best lives.”

Says Victoria Heath, Chief Marketing Officer at SunLife: “Our collaboration with TBWA\London has been transformative. This new direction reflects our evolution as a brand dedicated to empowering customers to live their lives without hesitation. By modernising our message and focusing on confidence, we’re ensuring that our brand resonates with a broader audience and inspires them to embrace life’s possibilities.”

Says Vicky Brunwin, Head of Brand at SunLife: “Our new brand platform really brings to life the everyday confidence that people can feel knowing they have their life insurance in place. We are deliberately going against the category norms to use British humour and charm to engage and entertain people, whilst also helping to reframe SunLife as a modern brand.”

Prior to joining TBWA\London, Swinburne spent two years at Colenso BBDO as Group Creative Director and before that spent a year at Special. The multi-awarded creative has graced top global agencies including Droga New York, McCann New York, Mother and AMV BBDO where he was Creative Director.

Agency – TBWA\London
Chief Creative Officer – Andy Jex
Creative Director – Matt Swinburne
Creatives – Freddie Mickshik & Beck Dunn
Snr Broadcast Producer – Megan Sutton
Strategy Director – LJ Kirkby-Jones
Business Director – Will Hunt
Account Manager – Yashika Jain
Media – MLG

Production Company: Smuggler
Director: Freddy Mandy
Production Company Producer: Neil Andrews
Production Manager: Rachel Donson
Executive Producer: Tom Knight
1st AD: Julian Richards
DOP: Suzie Lavelle
Production Designer: Max Randall
Stunt Coordinator: Matt Stirling
Casting: Anna Kennedy
Edit: Pete Sciberras, Stitch
Music: Wake The Town
Sound: Factory Studios
Sound Engineers: Jack Hallett, Anthony Moore
Grade: Rich Fearon, Black Kite
Post Production: Coffee & TV

 

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