24th June 2025
Mike Dinnell joined Leonard Curtis 8 months ago bringing his extensive experience to the funding team. Working across the North-West Mike leads the Structured Debt Solutions offering and is on a mission to share the funding message – we listen, we tailor, we deliver. We asked Mike a few questions to get to know him better.
Tell us about your role within the funding team
My focus is helping clients with raising capital (debt and equity) to help with growth, succession planning, capital purchases, acquisition (M&A) or simply re-financing their existing debt and working capital. Promoting our services as part of the wider group offering is key – particularly our focus on our advisory work with business owners who are looking to grow.
What do you enjoy about your role?
I get to work with such a diverse range of businesses. I’m often asked to support the growth strategy or the future succession planning of a business – recognising that this is a pivotal moment in their journey which I really enjoy being part of. The two key things I have in mind is to create and protect. Create and protect employment and help create and protect wealth for hard working owner managers.
Can you share a key/memorable moment where you’ve helped a client in your career so far?
I’ve been lucky enough to work with so many businesses and their owners over the last 30 years. But one client came to me 15 years ago and had made a significant loss through the property crash in 2008. I took the time to get to know him and understood the opportunities available to him despite his setback. I helped him grow the business back up and today he has created a diverse business that not only has surpassed his previous wealth but is genuinely supporting some of the most vulnerable people in society. We remain close friends.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your career?
You will never know the business better than the owners, so extract as much knowledge from them as possible. Business owners will not understand the funding market better than you, so create a pathway that simplifies what you do as much as possible, so they see your value.
Eight months in at LC – what does the rest of 2025 look like for you?
We want to grow; our team will be continuing to share the Leonard Curtis funding message with our networks with the aim of supporting our clients in their growth journeys.
Get in touch with Mike on mike.dinnell@leonardcurtis.co.uk or 07708 472908 to discuss how we can help your business move forward with purpose.