Ian Powell 

About My Role

As Business Development & Communications Director I am responsible for all Marketing & Communication, Business Development & Market Intelligence for Irwin Mitchell.

My main responsibilities are development and implementation of marketing and business development strategies for the firm and all divisions. This includes management of marketing planning, e-commerce, communication strategies (external and internal), brand development and positioning, business development including product development, CRM, cross selling, new client capture (Tendering and Presentations) and provision of market intelligence including client competitor and sector analysis, benchmarking and Marketing Knowledge Information Services (MKIS).

Career:

• I graduated in 1991 from Manchester Metropolitan University with a BA Hons (2:1) in Business Studies specialising in Marketing and Communication and International Marketing.
• I started my career within the Financial Services Sector as Advertising Manager for Royal Liver Assurance (1991-1995).
• I was Business Development Manager for a division of Legal & General (1995-1997) and then Regional Marketing Manager for DLA for 2 years.
• Joined IM in July 1999 as Marketing Director
• I was awarded National Business Development Director/Marketing Director of the Year at the annual Legal Marketing Awards
• Obtained MBA (Distinction) at University of Bradford in 2008.

Memberships

• Chartered Institute of Marketing

More About Me

What Inspired You To Get Into Law?

As a professional marketer I was looking for a role where I could apply my expertise and make a real difference.  In 1987, when I first entered the legal market place, the profession had just starting to embrace the need for marketing and professional managers.  It offered the opportunity to ‘get in at the beginning’, to work closely with people who care passionately about what they do and to help shape a business.

What Is The Most Rewarding Aspect Of Your Role?

From a pure business point of view, in seeing the business grow and prosper, in it achieving year on year growth and meeting its business objectives. From a client prospective, in being part of an organisation that provides something of value to its clients, whether that is providing a solution that helps a business to achieve its objectives or helping someone who is in real need of help to gain justice.

What Do You Like About Working At Irwin Mitchell?

The people and their passion for what they do.  It is extremely rewarding to be part of a team of like minded people who care about what they do and about Irwin Mitchell. It is a fast moving business with a real desire to help its clients and is constantly looking to improve and develop.  This creates a very challenging but equally satisfying working environment.

What Do You Do Away From The Office?

I am never really away from the office!  However having a recent addition to the family, the aim is to spend as much of my time away from the office with my wife and our son.  For total relaxation I read (with a specific interest in history), paint (very poorly) and walk the dog. Any additional spare time is spent knocking down and then rebuilding walls as we are in the middle of renovating our house.