MBO at marketing company

A Market Harborough marketing company has been sold in a management buy-out.

Jessica Shailes, who was made managing director at The Ideal Marketing Company in January, has bought the company after the previous owner, Helen Campbell, decided to sell the company for personal reasons.

The Ideal Marketing Company was originally set up by Helen’s husband Alastair Campbell. Alastair was co-owner and managing director of the business until June 2017 when he suffered a cardiac arrest at his desk. Since then, he has been in a prolonged disorder of consciousness from which he is not expected to recover.

Shailes has worked at Ideal Marketing since 2013, originally heading up the digital marketing department. She was promoted to business development manager when Helen took over running the business after Alastair’s cardiac arrest. Having led the company for 18 months after Alastair’s illness, Campbell felt it was the right time to step down, although she is still working with the company in a consultancy role.

She said: “When I decided to sell the business, Jess was the first person that I thought of. Having stepped up to a management role, Jess has more than proved her ability to run the company. She has over 15 years’ experience in marketing and also knows Ideal Marketing and its clients well. I’m sure that she will bring her own ideas and an exciting new direction to the business. She is also a choice that Alastair would have heartily approved of.”

The Ideal Marketing Company started life with founder Alastair working from home. The business now employs six people at its High Street offices at the Old Town Hall.

“I am excited to have such a great opportunity in owning a company with so much potential,” said Shailes. “Ideal Marketing has a wide client base and a good reputation in the local area. I hugely admired Alastair for his creativity, drive and marketing knowledge and I aim to continue his legacy by taking the company forward in my own way – which hopefully he would approve of.”

Rik Pancholi of Leicester based company Pattersons Commercial Law worked with Jess and Helen on the sale. He said: “Jess has been developing the strategy for the next phase of growth at The Ideal Marketing Company for some time. I am delighted to have been able to support her in the acquisition which I am confident will see the company continue to go from strength to strength.”