She is the woman behind the image of a giant global empire, a working mum and the daughter of one of Bermuda's most well know sons.

Meet Wendy Davis-Johnson, a true Bermuda onion and most recently promoted to head honcho for global communications for ACE Ltd.

Every day under the grand title of Director Global Operations she has the daunting task of co-ordinating the public face of ACE Ltd., making sure the company's image and its staff of the Bermuda insurance giant match up to the goals and philosophy of the company.

Now about 10 communications directors in different ACE locations around the world from London to Philadelphia, and under her wing they will now move forward to putting the finishing touches on a united image to the 15-year-old company."

ACE is a decentralised organisation. We don't sit in Bermuda and tell everyone what to do," she said. "We think globally but act locally.

"Ms Davis-Johnson joined ACE in 1997 and has made it all the way to the top of the world of communications. But her high-tech new offices on the first floor of the new ACE Building are a far cry from her liberal arts education in theatre and later education.

She was born in Bermuda, the daughter of David Critchley, an outspoken social activist for racial integration, and artist Molly Critchley.

Her father, permanent secretary for health and social services, who she says despite passing away in 1993 is still her mentor.

"His life was committed to the improvement of the life of Bermudians. I hope I carry his values with me. Our dinner table conversations in the sixties and seventies were on race relations.

"And his belief in equal rights for both adults and children has affected the way Ms Johnston approached life from day one and believes makes her better at dealing with a globally and locally with a diverse network of cultures, races and ages. She added: "He is my mentor."

Ms Johnson's first job after college was as a French teacher at a primary school. And after the birth of her first child Katie in Bermuda she stayed at home for a few years.

But an opportunity arose in broadcasting that tempted her back into the workplace when she was offered a job in television with VSB. She worked there for a short time before moving to ZBM in 1982 where she mainly worked as a radio news broadcast journalist.

In 1987 she was lured away to join the Department of Tourism as their manager of communications where she stayed until 1993.She then joined Bermuda International Business Association as marketing manager, before taking over the top post of executive director.

And although it was her dream job, she was lured away by ACE in September 1997. She said: "It was too good an opportunity not to take. Here was a young company and Brian Duperreault (chairman and CEO) had come back in 1995. He had been here for two years and had started along the path of growth by strategic diversification and acquisition."

So if you are invited to help and grow this company into a global company . . . it was just an outstanding opportunity."

It has been the most exacting and challenging thing I have ever done. It is fast moving, constantly changing and nimble environment. You have to be able to turn on a dime."

According to Ms Johnson, the company has moved on from the fierce acquisition stage of the late 1990's and is now consolidating the company further under one banner.

She said: "Our management has a shared vision and a clear sense of how to accomplish this. We make decisions quickly and astutely. We work in a dynamic environment that is exceptionally exacting."

Ms Johnson added that the company has a focus on the company as a team, but to work as a team employees needed to know what was expected of them, what is wanted of them and what are the rewards.

"It is difficult to commit to something if you don't understand what the goal is and what the reward its.

"And her job is to help the employees know what this changing goals are, with newsletters, web sites and a quarterly conference call for the 8,000 employees given by Brian Duperreault where there is an open table to ask questions about the organisation.

"There is tremendous focus on employees," said Ms Johnson. "We have to make sure we have the best people and access to information, and what that means is team that is incredibly passionate about their work."