USwitch to launch further sites after top-level losses

Price comparison site uSwitch is expanding its product range, as it rebuilds after the loss of four senior executives in the past few weeks.

The switching site is launching a life-insurance comparison product on April 17 and two further products, in the insurance and financial services sectors, in May and June. It aims to take advantage of consumer trends for switching, which has become more popular this year as prices fluctuate in the energy market.

The company’s new chief executive Alan Tattersall, who has officially been in the role for four weeks, says: “You get people being conned into all sorts of life-insurance products these days. This will allow them to choose a policy.”

Tattersall took over from marketing director Barry Holloway nine months ago, but was promoted to the top position after the departure of former chief Andrew Salmon in March. The company has confirmed its chief operating officer John Miller and finance director Vip Amin – who were part of Salmon and Holloway’s team that started the company in 2000 – have also departed.

Tattersall will also adopt the role of marketing director, in addition to his current responsibilities and “may or may not” recruit replacements for the departed staff.

USwitch was taken over by US media company EW Scripps in March 2006, to expand its interactive offering. The company announced it was looking at expansion into Europe and the US 14 months ago. Tattersall says progress was slowed by the credit crunch, but the site still plans to branch out this year.