In Person: Ian Donaldson, CEO of Atlanta Group

Great Expectations: The self-made broker talks about his billion pound ambitions, lifts the lid on the Swinton deal and considers his Ardonagh bosses.

“Without people we haven’t got a business,” he says.

He hosts a yearly party, AtlantaFest, for the staff with pop acts and is keen for staff to raise funds for and engage with local charities.

“The staff love it and all three of the businesses are there and staff get to mingle.”

Donaldson and the business also support a local football team – Kidsgrove Athletic. It’s a team Donaldson played for in his youth and he also coaches there and has bought them a minibus.

Donaldson, who participated in the InsurTrek which raised £100,000+ for Insurance United Against Dementia also won the Personality of the Year award at the UK Broker Awards.

“The mad thing was, the intro said ‘this person was on the InsurTrek’ and ‘big in the motor market’ and I still didn’t realise it was me!

“I was really chuffed by it because you don’t expect it and it’s nice when your peers recognise you.”

The award, which he took home to show his kids and his mum, now sits next to his gin bar at home.

When something is the right thing to buy and it can add to Atlanta and Ardonagh we have to look at it… We have the ability, the funds and the people to make these deals happen

Looking ahead, Donaldson refuses to ever rule out buying new businesses but integration and creating a stable foundation is paramount. Unsurprisingly, he declines to share any more detail on potential future targets.

“When something is the right thing to buy and it can add to Atlanta and Ardonagh we have to look at it,” he admits.

“We have the ability, the funds and the people to make these deals happen.”

Now Atlanta and Donaldson have the magical one billion GWP target in mind.

“There are two things. We’re getting the business into a good space so we want to get Carole Nash and Swinton back to organic growth and acquisitions which can complement Atlanta.”

“If the distribution is right, the model is right and the price is right… David and I would never be happy settled at the £500m mark,” he concludes.

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