Robert is perhaps best known as co-creative director of ideas agency RKCR, founded with his brilliant partners, MT, Jim and Mark. RKCR was sold in 1999 for £27 million.
He started work in the early 1973 aged 14 running a mobile disco ‘Endless Echoes’ with his brother, Alistair. He then worked as an ice cream man, and in a timber shop. In the late 1970s he trained and worked as a journalist. Then studied political philosophy at Bristol University. After his graduation he got a job as an advertising copywriter, working notably for legenday advertising writer David ‘Abbott is god.’
His career in advertising included founding three agencies. The Banks Partnership, RKCR and integrated digital agency Beta. He has been chairman of the British Television Advertising awards, a director of D&AD, the Creative Circle, and Creative Director of the IPA. He was known as ‘Richard Branson’s ad man’ for his work on Virgin, and the ‘Mick Jagger of advertising’ for his wardrobe.
Robert has advised American presidents, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Tutu on their communications. In 2010 he founded high50. A global publishing brand focussed on the well-heeled over 50s market. (A peronal highlight was listening to Lou Reed’s Transformer with Lou at high50’s vinyl listening club) High50 was sold in 2016.
Since then Robert has consulted, invested, and entrepreneured: Health insurance. Hammer Horror. Food Hall film production. Gail’s bakery. The Sliver Academy. Nina Morris clothes. Robert is chairman of Buddhist society trust. He believes in ideas that create wealth and change the world for better, like Supermarket.
