Towergate commercial underwriting managing director Simon Read has left the company and is being tipped to join rival broker Gallagher, Insurance Times understands.

Read was set to take charge of a new Towergate Underwriting commercial e-trading proposition, due to go live this summer, as managing director of e-traded business.

Market speculation suggested Read could join Gallagher's managing general agency arm and that he is expected to be joined by one other senior director.

Towergate and Gallagher declined to comment.