E-commerce expert Craig Harper-Ashton joins the Quotall board
A proven leader in global online trading, Harper-Ashton joins Quotall as Non-Executive Director to support strategy for retail brands launching into insurance.
Insurance e-trading specialist Quotall is delighted to announce that leading e-commerce expert Craig Harper-Ashton joins the Quotall board as a Non-Executive Director, effective March 2019.
An established leader in designing and implementing e-commerce strategies and ecosystems, Harper-Ashton has led several enterprise-scale multi-channel implementations in both B2C and B2B sectors for brands including Argos, Boots, Game, Halfords, Selfridges, Morrisons and Habitat.
Harper-Ashton has led the e-commerce team at Salmon (now Wunderman Thompson Commerce) since 2001, as Multi-Channel Director and Chief Delivery Officer, overseeing national and global eCommerce implementations.
Quotall Non-Executive Director Craig Harper-Ashton said, “Online retailers are facing disruptive threats and challenges from the likes of technology giants such as Amazon, so widening their propositions to include insurance and making their offerings more front of mind with customers is essential to developing and defending their businesses.
Cross selling insurance products online is a natural and obvious next step for online retailers to take, both when it comes to B2B commercial insurance and B2C personal insurance.
However, traditionally, retailers have steered clear of e-trading insurance due to the perception that it is complex, the market is not very transparent, and it is heavily regulated. Until now, these have been the handbrakes that have prevented non-regulated entities such as online retailers entering in any meaningful way.
I am convinced that the innovative Quotall team offer the technology, industry knowledge and contact network to unlock this exciting and profitable market for retailers, and in a way that still gives them control of user journeys and protects their brand values.
I am delighted to join Quotall as a Non-Executive Director and look forward to working with such an effective and pioneering team. 2019 looks set to be an exciting year.”
Quotall CEO Simon Ball said, “It is a huge pleasure to welcome a digital specialist of Craig’s calibre to the Quotall team as a Non-Executive Director. Craig’s expertise in multi-channel e-commerce business strategy is second to none, and we look forward to benefiting from both his high-level insight and his practical, hands-on approach.
Times are changing for insurance – there is a growing trend for large retailers and digital businesses to explore insurance channels, reflecting demand from consumers for new, more simple and relevant purchasing channels. We see significant scope for retailers to harness the existing close relationship they have with their customers and deliver an even better service through an online insurance proposition.
At the same time, we as Quotall want to work with those insurance businesses that recognise that change, and know they need to invest in digitising their business to remain relevant going forwards. We are excited to benefit from Craig’s vision and insight as we continue to grow as the insurance ecommerce platform of choice.”
The appointment of Harper-Ashton as a Non-Executive Director comes after leading office supplies provider Office Depot Europe launched into insurance with a ground-breaking model developed in partnership with Quotall.
The initial insurance service runs through ODE’s Viking UK brand as Viking Direct Insurance, offering insurance to Viking’s 325,000 active small and mid-sized enterprise (SME) customers.
Quotall Non-Executive Director Craig Harper-Ashton