Jason Eatock replaces Richard Coleman as Zurich SME boss

Zurich has appointed Jason Eatock to replace Richard Coleman as head of SME within the insurer’s UK commercial broker business.

Coleman was promoted to managing director of the commercial broker business in October.

He had led the division on an interim basis after Dave Smith took over from Steve Lewis as UKGI chief executive.

During this period Eatock has been head of SME transformation, working with Coleman to deliver the new ZTrade online trading platform for Zurich’s SME brokers.

Eatock joined Zurich in 1993 where he held a variety of roles across underwriting and sales.

He later became Zurich’s North West Branch Manager in 2006 and joined the SME team the following year.

Coleman said: “We’ve made no secret of our ambitions in the SME market - and the launch of our brand new and market-leading proposition for small businesses this summer has only served to help us achieve those.

“SMEs account for 98% of businesses in the UK and their operating landscape is becoming more complex. So we need someone who can drive the on-going development of this part of our business and I know that Jason is just the man for the job.

“He has been instrumental in getting Zurich’s new proposition to market and will do a great job in driving our SME portfolio into the future.”

Eatock added: “We’ve spent a lot time transforming our business so it works for our brokers and their customers. I’m looking forward to leading the next challenge which is to build on this great foundation in order to take Zurich’s ambition to the market in the coming years.”