Ex-Saga boss to head new European Web insurer

Former Saga financial services marketing director Michael Cutbill is heading the launch of a pan-European online insurance company, called ci2i. Ci2i will offer motor, home and other general insurance products.

Cutbill will act as part-time chief executive of ci2i. It is his first project since he left Saga in March (MW March 10), following a £1.35bn management buyout last October.

Saga is seeking a replacement for Cutbill, who had been with the company since 1999, to market its range of insurance, savings, investment and planning products for the over-50s. The successful candidate will head a team of 60 marketers.

Ci2i has been set up by Dinesh Dhamija, the founder and former chief executive of online travel agent Ebookers. He left following Ebookers’ £209m sale to American travel group Cendant Corporation earlier this year.

Cutbill says: “A lot of insurance, particularly in mainland Europe, is still bought offline.There is potential for major growth online.”

Ci2i hopes to launch in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain in the autumn.