Robbie Robertson

Robbie Robertson is a non executive director of Buro Happold, and five other companies. Prior to embarking on a non executive career Robbie worked for over thirty years for Anglo American, one of the world's major mining companies. He joined with a degree in history from Oxford University, but quickly oriented towards finance. After periods of two years in London and Paris, he spent five in the finance function in Johannesburg. This was followed by two years in New York and five in Rio de Janeiro where he was Finance Director for the South American operations. Finance was fascinating in countries with inflation and interest rates of two percent per day.

He returned to the UK in 1989, with his British wife, South African and Brazilian sons and American daughter. He headed Anglo's London office with wide ranging responsibilities, including non executive roles in companies in which Anglo had investments, ranging from pharmaceuticals to food, from pulp and paper to venture capital.

His last ten years at Anglo were spent as Chief Executive of the Industrial Minerals Division, which included phosphate fertilisers in Brazil, potash in the UK and building materials in Europe. Tarmac was acquired in 2000, and integrated with Anglo's existing building materials business. Major projects included a new fertiliser complex in Brazil and cement plant in Derbyshire.

Robbie's first job after Anglo was Chairman of a Chinese cement company, and in addition to Buro Happold his present activities include gold mining in Zimbabwe, investment companies and building materials. Clearly a non engineer, Robbie brings a broad and international business experience to the board.