PPP restructures after losing top executives

Private Patients Plan, the UK’s third largest health insurance company, has centralised its marketing department following the departure of several senior marketing executives.

It is understood that the old structure, where each separate division had its own marketing department, has been replaced with a central marketing department. The group is thought to be searching for a new director of marketing to head it.

PPP Corporate Direct head of direct marketing David Bitten and Clive Harris, head of sales and marketing for PPP Personal Division, have left the company. It is believed Jeremy Oakley, head of marketing at PPP Lifetime – a separate company not believed to be affected by the centralisation – has also gone.

In total, some 20 senior people (not all in marketing) are said to have departed. The move was apparently instigated by Peter Owen, who joined as group chief executive in August from Aer Lingus.

PPP closed its intermediary arm in November after only two years. Intermediaries had complained about PPP operating a two-tier system, with products being sold both through them and directly, at different prices.

Owen instigated a full scale review of PPP’s business as soon as he joined the company.

It is understood that WCRS is conducting a brand audit of the group at the moment. It appears that all advertising and marketing plans are on hold until this is complete.

PPP was criticised last year for its sponsorship of the ITV drama series Peak Practice, from which it has now withdrawn.