2006 Women to Watch: Marita Zuraitis
Hanover Insurance Group Inc. Reprints
President
Hanover Insurance Group Inc.
Worcester, Mass.
Age: 46
Marita Zuraitis’ nearly 25 years experience in the insurance industry includes leadership positions at national and super-regional insurers that provide personal and commercial lines products. From 1982 to 1993, she held management positions at Aetna Life and Casualty Co. She then held senior positions for five years at United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., which merged with the St. Paul Companies. She then served as president and chief executive officer of St. Paul’s commercial lines division beginning in 1998. She was named president of Hanover in April 2004.
Q: Who has had the greatest influence on your career and why?
A: "Steve Lilienthal, CEO of CNA, Jay Fishman, CEO of St. Paul Travelers and now Fred Eppinger, CEO of The Hanover Insurance Group. I have had the opportunity to work directly for three of the best minds in insurance today. It just doesn’t get any better than that."
Q: What advice would you give young women entering the industry today?
A: "There is no 'silver bullet.' Whether you are a man or a woman, it’s about competency, hard work, execution and results."
Q: If you had the ability to change one thing about the industry what would it be?
A: "I would change the regulatory environment in which we operate to allow more creative thinking and solutions on the spread and the pricing of risk. I believe we have the intellect, the talent and the commitment within the industry and the regulatory community to solve even the most challenging issues if given the opportunity. Moving to a more free market-based regulatory system would help create that opportunity."
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Business Insurance's report on "Women to Watch" is our attempt to identify some of the women who are leading change in commercial insurance, risk management, employee benefits and related fields.
