Kidsgrove Town Deal Board member profiles

Ian Donaldson - Chief Executive

Board role

Member

Sub-group

Employment and Enterprise

Profile

As CEO of Atlanta Group, Ian leads a 2,500 people strong digital business that arranges two million policies on behalf of its customers. Ian was named Broker Personality of the Year at the UK Broker Awards in September 2019.

Atlanta proudly houses several leading customer facing brands including Autonet, Carole Nash and Swinton. Ian co-founded Autonet aged 24. He led the business through a defining period of organic growth and throughout its becoming part of the Ardonagh Group in 2017.

Now employing over 700 colleagues at their two sites in Burslem and Trentham Lakes, this reaffirms Autonet’s ongoing commitment to the local area.

Autonet is also a main sponsor of Kidsgrove Athletic football club, as well as supporting lower grass roots clubs within the Kidsgrove area.

Autonet were also heavily involved in keeping Tom Lowe’s boxing school open, an establishment based in Kidsgrove which helps tackle anti-social behaviour and channel positive actions and behaviour through sport.

Over the past 3 years through staff fundraising, over £198,000 has been donated to local charities. In addition to this, £81,000 has been awarded to local causes through their community fund. Atlanta Group also runs regular donation appeals providing food, clothing etc. to local causes.

A former semi-professional football player, Ian continues to coach youth football at Kidsgrove Athletic FC.

Ian was born and raised in Kidsgrove and continues to reside in the local area. Ian is also a mentor at Kings School in Kidsgrove, giving guidance to school children on careers and life after school.