Women to Watch: >Eileen McCusker

Eileen McCusker

Chief Operating Officer for U.K. and Ireland Region

XL Insurance Co. Ltd.

London

Age: 53

Eileen McCusker started her career in insurance as an engineering underwriter in Glasgow, Scotland. She joined XL Capital Ltd. when the Bermudian company acquired Winterthur International from Credit Suisse Group in 2001. Ms. McCusker is one of the most senior women at XL, responsible for more than 400 staff. Between 2004 and 2006, she was responsible for the reorganization of XL Insurance's Nordic operations under one management structure based in Sweden.

Advice to young women: "I'd say the most important qualities you can develop are self-belief, determination and integrity. We're very lucky--there are tremendous opportunities in our industry. Self-belief and determination will help you make the most of them. Integrity, in terms of delivering what you commit to, will get you noticed for all the right reasons. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, you'll get noticed anyway, but you'll be remembered by your integrity."