Business and public service
Robin has 28 years’ experience at board level in commercial companies and national and global trade associations, 22 of those at Chair or Vice-chair level. He has 14 years’ experience attending public bodies boards and 10 years’ experience as a board trustee.
Starting as an apprentice in 1975, Robin has trained hundreds of young people in work-based learning and has continually employed apprentices throughout his business career. He served as a trustee of Creative & Cultural Skills UK for 8 years and is currently a founder board member of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, set up by government in April 2017. He sits on the shadow board of the new National College for Creative & Cultural Skills and the board of The Backstage Centre in Purfleet, a £15m state-of-the-art training facility in performing arts’ offstage crafts, which he helped to found.
Robin is a music producer of international renown. In November 2010, Robin stepped away from full-time music production to concentrate on his public and charitable roles and, increasingly, on assisting with new national apprentice and skills training programmes, and in assisting head-hunters and public bodies to unlock potential in disabled applicants for key roles on public, private and third-sector boards.
He was made a CBE in 2010 in recognition of his musical, business and campaigning career.
Robin Millar work history
Robin gained a law degree from the University of Cambridge before enrolling as a music technology apprentice aged 24. He spent 3 years in workplace/college-based learning.
He has operated successful businesses in recording studios, management, music and magazine publishing, and luxury car hire. He has worked as a musician, actor, model, double glazing salesman, recording engineer, chief executive, concert promoter and fundraiser.
In 2007, he was awarded Honorary Professor status by the London College of Music. He is a visiting professor and lecturer in commercial music at The Royal Academy of Music, London College of Music, Surrey University and The University of Modena in Italy.
Robin is Executive Group Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of the Blue Raincoat Chrysalis Group, which specialises in record releases, music publishing and artist management. In September 2020, he became chair designate of disability charity Scope.
CV
September 2020 – present
Chair Designate, Scope
2017 – present
Director, Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education
2011 – 2016
Trustee, Creative & Cultural Skills
2011 – 2016
Global Advisor, Leonard Cheshire Disability United Nations Young Voices
2010
Commander of the Order of The British Empire CBE
2010 – 2018
Patron, CALM UK
2009 – 2016
Board Director, National Skills Academy UK
2009
Fellow of The Association of Professional Recording Services.
2007
Hon. Professor, London College of Music
2005 – 2010
Personal Advisor to Group Chairman of EMI Group Plc and then EMI Ltd
2004 – 2009
Music Producers Guild, Delegate to main board and performer board PPL UK Ltd
2004 – 2007
Chairman and CEO, [Sony Music] Whitfield Street Recording Studios
2003
Chair, PPL Peer review Tribunal PPL UK Ltd
1999 – 2003
Member of DCMS Government Music Industry Forum, DCMS, Cabinet Office, London
1998-1999
Director, Performing Artists Media Rights Association
1997 – 2009
Chairman, Arts Media Ltd
1994 – Present
Visiting Professor, Royal Academy of Music, London; Thames Valley University, London; Surrey University, England and Centra Musicale, Modena, Italy.
1992 – 1994
Director, Association of Professional Recording Services UK
1989 – 1997
Worldwide Chairman, Music Producers Guild
1982 – 1990
CEO, Scarlett Group PLC and Crusoe Music Publishing Ltd
1975 – 2010
Record Producer
1974 – 1982
Professional musician, recording artist, actor
1973 – 1974
Ass. Royalty Manager then Copyright Manager, Polydor Records Ltd
1970 – 1973
Queens’ College, Cambridge. MA [Law]
