New Zealand-based Javln has appointed David Leach as CEO, with founder Dale Smith taking the role of chairman after more than a decade running the insurtech.

Mr Smith, the insurance software group’s majority shareholder, says moving to head the board is a decision he “didn’t make lightly”.

“When you build a company like Javln from the ground up, there’s a huge amount of pride,” he said. “I have loved this journey over the past decade and I look forward to continuing to scale the business and remain present and involved in my new capacity as chair.

“I am incredibly excited for the future of Javln under David’s leadership and have complete confidence in the executive team we have built.”

Mr Leach has been CEO and a board member at inventory management software firm Cin7 since 2019 and has held senior positions at software company ezyVet and IT consulting firm Qrious. He was also at Orion Health for almost a decade.

He has been a Javln board member for four months.

“I have seen the transformation potential of Javln first-hand and I’m thrilled to take on this role and lead the company’s next phase of growth,” Mr Leach said.

Javln, founded in 2011, counts Trans-West Insurance Brokers and BJS Insurance Group as customers. Its platform is designed for brokers, agents, underwriters and insurers.

It acquired Steadfast’s underwriting policy management platform and workflow software OfficeTech, and this year appointed Peter Waring as CTO, Rosalie Lau as CFO and Emma Scoringe as chief marketing officer. 

Current Javln chair Kerry McIntosh will remain on the board as a director.