Coverzones founder is new Powerplace chief

Powerplace has appointed former Coverzones chief executive Simon Ball as chief executive.

Ball will join Powerplace on 1 June. Ball founded commercial aggregator Coverzones in 2008.

However, last May the company ceased writing new business and was eventually bought out of administration.

He will replace ex-chief executive Matthew Reed, who left Powerplace in February.

Reed is now AXA managing director, intermediary and partnerships, and will work with former Towergate colleague Amanda Blanc.

Powerplace chairman and Towergate founder Peter Cullum, who revealed Ball's appointment in an exclusive Insurance Times interview alongside Towergate chief executive Andy Homer this week, said: “We are delighted that Simon is joining us at this exciting time as Powerplace helps change the dynamics of the SME commercial lines market.

"He has been in the business of e-trading since the dotcom boom and has brought its benefits into the mainstream in a wide range of sectors, while with Coverzones, he was at the forefront of the transition towards online commercial lines distribution in our industry."

Ball said: “This role is, in my view, the most exciting position available in the commercial lines market today. I am honored to have it entrusted to me and excited to be given the challenge of taking the business forward.”

Click here to read our exclusive interview with Towergate duo Peter Cullum and Andy Homer.