Steve Rigby

Steve’s Biography

Steve Rigby is Co-CEO of Rigby Group, one of the world’s largest and most successful family-owned businesses.

Steve is the 2nd generation of the Rigby family to run the Group which was founded in 1975 by Steve’s father Sir Peter Rigby. Since then, the Group has transformed into a multinational conglomerate employing over 8,500 people across Europe, with revenues of £4bn ($5bn).

The Group has three main divisions: SCC, the principal trading business and Europe’s largest privately-owned IT services company; Rigby Technology Investments which operates majority and minority investments in technology businesses; and the Group’s Real Estate portfolio spanning airport, commercial, residential and hospitality and assets.

On top of running established Group companies, Steve has founded a number of key businesses including Rigby & Rigby - London’s leading award-winning ultra prime developer, as well as building and later selling two significant technology businesses, Nuvias and Fluidone. Over the last decade Steve has led the sale of £500m of assets for the family.

Steve divides... Steve Rigby is Co-CEO of Rigby Group, one of the world’s largest and most successful family-owned businesses.

Steve is the 2nd generation of the Rigby family to run the Group which was founded in 1975 by Steve’s father Sir Peter Rigby. Since then, the Group has transformed into a multinational conglomerate employing over 8,500 people across Europe, with revenues of £4bn ($5bn).

The Group has three main divisions: SCC, the principal trading business and Europe’s largest privately-owned IT services company; Rigby Technology Investments which operates majority and minority investments in technology businesses; and the Group’s Real Estate portfolio spanning airport, commercial, residential and hospitality and assets.

On top of running established Group companies, Steve has founded a number of key businesses including Rigby & Rigby - London’s leading award-winning ultra prime developer, as well as building and later selling two significant technology businesses, Nuvias and Fluidone. Over the last decade Steve has led the sale of £500m of assets for the family.

Steve divides his time between his responsibilities at Rigby Group, his philanthropic interests, family and hobbies. As a Trustee of the Rigby Foundation, he helps to ensure that the Group’s success supports the local Midlands community. Steve is a long-term supporter of Place2Be, the leading children’s mental health charity, most recently as Chair of the charity’s development board. Steve is a Board Member of Family Business UK (FBUK), a patron of the Entrepreneurs Network, a Wall Street Journal CEO Council member, and a judge on the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and World Superyacht Awards.

In 2022, Steve was recognised as “Leader of the Year” by three organisations - International Business Awards, UK Brilliance Awards and the UK Business Awards and in 2021 he was an EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist. more less

Steve’s Newsfeed

The Times

Backing Britain’s family firms is key for their long-term success

Steve Rigby writes about the crucial role that family businesses play in the success of the UK economy and the constraints that these firms face in today's operating environment.

Steve’s Background

Rigby Group plc

Co-Chief Executive Officer & Shareholder

Birmingham, UK

Rigby Group is the holding company for a portfolio of private businesses across Europe and the Middle East. The multi-national started life as a technology business and has evolved through strategic acquisitions that have allowed the group to grow its portfolio to 140 companies covering eight divisions. In 2021 the Group's combined revenue across the eight divisions reached £3bn.

Other Business Interests

Family Business UK

Board Member

Jun 2023 - Present

London, UK

Founded in 2001 as the Institute for Family Business (IFB), Family Business UK (FBUK) is dedicated to providing resources, support, and education for family-owned businesses, fostering their growth, sustainability, and intergenerational success.

Current Board Positions

SCC

Chairman

SCC plc (formerly known as Specialist Computer Centres) is the technology division of Rigby Group and was founded by Sir Peter Rigby in 1975. The company has evolved into a multinational IT services and solutions provider, based in the UK with offices in France, Spain, Romania and Vietnam.

Regional & City Airports

Non Executive Director

Regional & City Airports (RCA) is the leading player in the UK regional airport sector and owns Bournemouth Airport, Coventry Airport, Exeter Airport and Norwich Airport and operates Blackpool Airport and Solent Airport Daedalus on behalf of their owners. RCA is part of the Rigby Group.

Nuvias

Chairman

Steve Rigby founded Nuvias Group in 2015 to address three main areas: Cyber Security, Advanced Networking and Unified Communications. In July 2022 it was announced that Infinigate would acquire Nuvias to create a pan-European Cyber Security powerhouse. Rigby Private Equity would be a shareholder in the Infinigate Group.

British International Helicopters

Non Executive Director

British International Helicopters is the largest, British-owned helicopter firm, and long-term partner to both military and commercial clients. BIH works with the UK Ministry of Defence to support operations in the Falkland Islands, as well as delivering a combined SAR and Support Helicopter service to the British Forces South Atlantic Islands operations.

Rigby Real Estate

Chairman

Rigby Real Estate owns a diverse commercial real estate portfolio with freehold properties and large scale developments surrounding the group’s airport assets at Bournemouth, Coventry, Norwich and Exeter.

Rigby Capital

Chairman

London, UK

Rigby Capital was established in order to improve IT financing solutions by helping vendors develop commercial models that would align with their client’s financial needs.

Allect

Chairman

London, UK

Allect is an international design group that brings together the world’s leaders in design, including architecture, interior design as well as marine and product design. Allect falls under the Rigby Group umbrella and is unique in its structure, ensuring collaboration across all brands (including Rigby & Rigby, Lawson Robb and Helen Green Design), and design disciplines.

Eden Hotel Collection

Non Executive Director

The Eden Hotel Collection is a portfolio of nine luxury hotels in the UK, and is wholly owned by the Rigby Group. Each property is unique in character, all delivering the impeccable service, quality and attention to detail for which the collection is renowned.

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Philanthropy

Place2Be

Chair of Development Board

London, UK

Place2Be is a British non-profit organisation that supports children with mental health issues and helps them to navigate the associated challenges. The charity works with pupils, families and school staff across the UK.

Rigby Foundation

Trustee

London, UK

The Rigby Foundation Charitable Trust was founded on the principle that growth in business and giving back to society should go hand-in-hand. The Foundation currently has more than £1.5 million invested, principally in causes that support health and education.

Media

Rigby Group's Future Plans

Oct 2023

Following the publication of Rigby Group’s Annual Report confirming the company’s best-ever results, Steve Rigby looks forward to the group’s future in this short video.

The role of UK family businesses

Aug 2023

In this video Steve Rigby expresses his view on the importance of a family business.

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Features

Family Business CEOs to Watch 2023: Steve Rigby

Article

Oct 2023

Barbara Spector, Editor-At-Large of Family Business Magazine, wrote this feature on Steve Rigby, identified as one of the 23 Family Business CEO's to watch this year.

Awards & Recognition

Wall Street Journal | CEO Council

New York, NY, USA

The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council is a network of the world’s most influential business leaders driving the next era of industry, policy and the global economy. Steve Rigby has appeared on the list in 2022 and in 2023.

International Business Excellence Awards

Gold Award Winner, Business Leader of the Year

Feb 2023

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Press Releases

Infinigate to acquire the Nuvias Group

Jul 2022

It has been announced that Infinigate are to acquire the Nuvias Group. The founder of Nuvias, Rigby Private Equity, will be a shareholder in the Infinigate Group.

SCC acquires Visavvi

May 2022

Europe’s largest privately-owned IT services firm, SCC, has announced the acquisition of audiovisual (AV) specialist Visavvi. Steve Rigby, Co-Chief Executive of Rigby Group, SCC’s parent company, is chair of the new board.

Co-Chief Executive Officer & Shareholder

Rigby Group plc

London, UK

Steve’s Biography

Steve’s Newsfeed

Steve’s Background

Other Business Interests

Current Board Positions

Philanthropy

Media

Features

Awards & Recognition

Press Releases

Company

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