Mark Mitchell to speak at CRE Networking Day

ByDave Hall

Mark Mitchell to speak at CRE Networking Day

Thu 15 June 2023
12-2.30pm
Emirates Old Trafford

Special Guest: Mark Mitchell, founder and MD of the Mitchell Group, Cheshire Oaks

Mark Mitchell was born and bred in Birkenhead and at eight years old realised his gifting in the world of commerce – setting up a hamster retail business in the school playground.

He went on to read economics at Leeds, creating and launching a wide variety of memorable business ventures in his spare time. On graduation, he joined the motor industry and after holding key positions at Rover, Ford and Jaguar, returned to the Wirral at 28 with his wife, Anita. They had met at St Michael le Belfrey in York. Jointly, they started Mitchell Group in 1990 with £100 share capital and a £10,000 overdraft from Barclays.

The business now represents three major automotive brands – Lexus, Mazda and Škoda – from the five-acre base at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet Village, and employs over 100 people. Driven by a passionate Christian faith, Mark has always been counter-cultural in terms of business leadership – putting colleagues before customers, and not trading on Sundays.

He was appointed UK Automotive Business Leader of the Year 2020, and at the same time served as (then) Her Majesty’s High Sheriff of Cheshire. He also serves as Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire until his 75th birthday. Wider involvement includes foodbanks, street pastors, Wirral-wide men’s breakfasts and, of course, a keen local church involvement.

At our networking day at Old Trafford we’ll be finding out about the events in business that may have challenged his faith, whether staying shut on Sundays has ever impacted the Mitchell Group, and if he has been ever been tempted to part-ex hamsters.