By Lars Mucklejohn Hywel Ball, head of Ernst & Young’s (EY) UK business, has told partners at the firm that he will step down as chair, kickstarting a race for one of the most prestigious jobs in British professional services. In an email to partners on Wednesday morning, 61-year-old Ball said the time had come to “hand on the baton” to someone else. He has led the Big Four firm since 2020 and has worked there his entire professional life, since 1983. Ball was a strong proponent of a radical plan by EY’s global bosses last year to split up its audit business and consulting arm, codenamed Proje…