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Dr Robert Kilgour

Founder & CEO

Dow Investments Plc

London, UK

Robert Kilgour

Warrington Asset Management LLC

Robert’s Biography

Dr Robert Dow Kilgour is a seasoned business leader, property developer, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist.

In 1988 Robert Kilgour established Four Seasons Health Care, opening its first care home in May 1989. When he exited the company in 2000 it was the fifth-largest care home operator in the UK. He made his final financial exit in 2004.

Robert is Founder and CEO of Dow Investments Plc and Executive Chairman of Renaissance Care which runs 17 care homes in Scotland. He is also a Director of NW Security Group and was a founder-shareholder, and eventually Chair, of Kingdom FM Radio until its sale in 2019.

In addition to his business ventures, Robert is a Director of Borland Insurance, an Advisory Board Director of E2E, and an Advisory Council Member of the Taxpayers Alliance and the Jobs Foundation. He co-founded and serves as an Ambassador of Local Recovery, a non-party campaign group in Scotland, and founded Think Scotland in 2006. He founded and chairs SBUK, a cross-party group of Scottish businesspeople opposing a second Scottish independence referendum. He recently... Dr Robert Dow Kilgour is a seasoned business leader, property developer, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist.

In 1988 Robert Kilgour established Four Seasons Health Care, opening its first care home in May 1989. When he exited the company in 2000 it was the fifth-largest care home operator in the UK. He made his final financial exit in 2004.

Robert is Founder and CEO of Dow Investments Plc and Executive Chairman of Renaissance Care which runs 17 care homes in Scotland. He is also a Director of NW Security Group and was a founder-shareholder, and eventually Chair, of Kingdom FM Radio until its sale in 2019.

In addition to his business ventures, Robert is a Director of Borland Insurance, an Advisory Board Director of E2E, and an Advisory Council Member of the Taxpayers Alliance and the Jobs Foundation. He co-founded and serves as an Ambassador of Local Recovery, a non-party campaign group in Scotland, and founded Think Scotland in 2006. He founded and chairs SBUK, a cross-party group of Scottish businesspeople opposing a second Scottish independence referendum. He recently co-founded and launched The Museum of the Prime Minister.

Robert is an Ambassador for Macmillan Cancer Support and over the past 30 years has raised over £2m for the charity. In 2023 he founded the Social Care Foundation, a UK-wide pressure group to support social care reform.

Kilgour was a Member of the CBI Scottish Council and the CBI UK SME Council from 2000-03. In June 2023 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Stirling for his ‘outstanding contribution to entrepreneurship and philanthropy.’

Born in Edinburgh and educated at Loretto School, Robert splits his time between London and Fife. In his leisure time, Robert enjoys competing in sports with his four adult children and spending quality time with his two young grandchildren. more less

Robert’s Newsfeed

Care boss accuses local authorities of ‘blatant hypocrisy’ on fee levels

Renaissance Care chairman, Robert Kilgour, has accused Scottish local authorities of “blatant hypocrisy and double standards” over new fee levels.

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EXCLUSIVE: Care leader calls for Sturgeon to ‘tell the truth’ on Covid testing

Robert Kilgour, founder of Renaissance Care, has demanded that former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon “tell the truth” over why Scotland waited five days longer than England to test hospital discharges to care homes during Covid.

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Robert’s Background

Dow Investments Plc

Founder & CEO

May 1990 - Present

London, UK

An general investment company established in 1990.

Renaissance Care Group

Founder & Executive Chairman

Dec 2004 - Present

Edinburgh, UK

Renaissance Care is a care home operator with 17 care homes in Scotland, employing approximately 1,300 staff.

NW Security Group Ltd

Co-Founder & Non Executive Director

Oct 2004 - Present

Hoylake, UK

A leading provider of high-performance video and security systems.

My Care Staff Ltd

Founder & Director

Mar 2017 - Present

Kirkcaldy, UK

A website that will put carers and nurses looking for work directly in touch with care homes and hospitals looking for staff, thus cutting out the agencies to the financial benefit of both parties involved.

Four Seasons Health Care

Founder & Managing Director, latterly joint Chief Executive/Group Commercial Director

Jul 1987 - Jan 2000

Robert Kilgour founded FSHC with one care home in Fife and developed it into the UK's fifth biggest care home operator.

Kingdom FM

Founder Shareholder & Non-Executive Chairman

Feb 2007 - Mar 2019

Robert was a founder-shareholder, and eventually Chairman, of Kingdom FM, Fife's local radio franchisee employing 13 staff. In 2019 he engineered the sale of the radio station to publisher DC Thomson.

CamVista Ltd

Co Founder & Chairman/CEO/Deputy Chairman

Jan 1999 - Nov 2002

CamVista is a leading webcam portal website which was sold to a large security company.

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Robert’s Gallery

Current Board Positions

The Social Care Foundation

Founder & Chair

Jul 2023 - Present

London, UK

A UK wide, cross-party think tank and pressure group focused on reforming social care.

Museum of the Prime Minister

Co-Founder & Chair

Oct 2022 - Present

London, UK

Plans are underway to create a new museum dedicated to the Prime Minister, the highest-ranking democratic office in the United Kingdom, aiming to collect and showcase items related to Prime Ministers that aren’t applicable to existing museum collections.

ICHS Group

Founder & Chair

Sep 2022 - Present

Musselburgh, UK

Independent Care Homes Scotland is comprised of over 10 care home operators. These organisations will work together to help to ensure all areas of the independent care sector are fully represented within the national public inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Scottish Business UK

Founder

Mar 2017 - Present

Edinburgh, UK

Business and industry in Scotland are facing up to the challenges posed by Brexit. SBUK understand the importance of recasting Scotland's relationship with the EU based on free-trade and new forms of co-operation.

Think Scotland

Founder

2006 - Present

Edinburgh, UK

Established as a virtual think tank in 2006, to encourage greater discussion in Scotland about economic, social & constitutional policies – from the perspective of mainly Scottish Conservative authors.

Borland Private Clients

Non-Executive Director

Mar 2018 - Present

Edinburgh, UK

Borland is a privately-owned independent insurance broker, established in 1995. Borland Private Clients provides specialist insurance advice and coverage for individuals with high-end homes, valuable assets, and premium motor vehicles.

Lifelinked Ltd (StoriiCare)

Non-Executive Director

Jan 2017 - Present

Glasgow, UK

StoriiCare understand how photographs can help to recover memories for those living with dementia. They developed a new approach to person-centred care. StoriiCare is a care management system with life stories at its core.

Morphose Capital Partners (FCA)

Non Executive Director

Jul 2015 - Present

London, UK

London-based specialists in M&A advisory, brokerage and refinancing.

Hamilton Kilgour Ltd

Non-Executive Director

Jan 2009 - Present

London, UK

Hamilton Kilgour Ltd provides advice on regulatory compliance, anti-money laundering and corporate governance.

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Previous Board Positions

Cochrane McGregor

Non-Executive Director

1992 - 1994

Edinburgh, UK

Current Advisory Roles

The Jobs Foundation

Advisory Council Member

Jul 2023 - Present

London, UK

The Jobs Foundation is a registered charity working with businesses across the UK that are dedicated to providing training and jobs to those unemployed and in poverty.

E2Exchange

Advisory Board Director

May 2011 - Present

E2E is a global community of over 24,000 successful entrepreneurs and creates an exchange between entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and professional service providers.

Philanthropy

Macmillan Cancer Support

Ambassador

Dec 2018 - Present

Robert Kilgour became Macmillan Cancer Support’s first Ambassador in December in 2018. Over the last 30 years he has helped to raise over £2,000,000 for the charity.

Macmillan Cancer Support

Fundraiser

2007 - 2009

Robert Kilgour part funded and opened the new Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre in 2009 at Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. He also part funded the establishment of the first Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre in the UK at Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, North London in 2007.

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Awards & Recognition

University of Stirling

Honorary Doctorate

Jun 2023

Stirling, UK

Former University of Stirling student, Robert Kilgour, received an honorary doctorate from the university, acknowledging his outstanding contribution to business and philanthropy.

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year

Finalist, Scottish Entrepreneur of the Year

2001

Edinburgh, UK

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Pro Bono Work

Local Recovery

Ambassador

Mar 2022 - Present

Robert Kilgour is an Ambassador for Local Recovery, an organisation dedicated to ensuring that UK and Scottish governments prioritise local priorities as communities recover from the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Robert’s Education

University of Stirling

Economics & History

1975 - 1978

Loretto School

1970 - 1975