Robert Smith, Baron Smith of Kelvin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Smith of Kelvin
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| Assumed office 29 May 2008 Life Peerage |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Haldane Smith
8 August 1944 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Political party | Crossbench |
| Spouse |
Alison Marjorie Bell
(m. 1969) |
| Children | 2 |
| Occupation | Businessman, parliamentarian |
Robert Haldane Smith, Baron Smith of Kelvin, born on August 8, 1944, is a well-known British businessman. He used to be a Governor for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Lord Smith has received several important honors. He was made a Knight in 1999. In 2008, he became a Life Peer in the House of Lords, which means he can be part of the UK Parliament. He sits as an independent member, known as a crossbench peer. In 2014, he was given the special title of Knight of the Thistle, and in 2016, he joined the Order of the Companions of Honour.
Today, Lord Smith of Kelvin is the Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde. He also chairs the British Business Bank, which helps businesses grow. He has led many other companies and organizations in the past, like IMI plc and Scottish Enterprise.
In 2014, after the "No" vote in the Scottish independence referendum, Prime Minister David Cameron asked Lord Smith to lead the Scotland Devolution Commission. His job was to make sure promises about giving more power to Scotland were kept.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Smith grew up in the Broomhill area of Glasgow, Scotland. He went to Allan Glen's School in Glasgow.
After finishing school in 1963, he started studying at the University of Glasgow. However, he didn't pass his English exams in his first year. He then decided to pursue a career in accountancy. He trained with Robb Ferguson & Company and became a qualified Chartered Accountant in 1968.
Professional Journey
Lord Smith has had a long and successful career in business. He worked at ICFC (later called 3i) until 1982. In 1983, he joined the Royal Bank of Scotland. From 1985 to 1989, he was a managing director at Charterhouse Development Capital Ltd.
He also held top positions at Morgan Grenfell Private Equity and Morgan Grenfell Asset Management. Later, he was Vice Chairman of Deutsche Asset Management from 2000 to 2002. He served as a director for several companies, including MFI Furniture Group plc, Stakis plc, the Bank of Scotland, and Network Rail. From 2002 to 2013, he was the Chairman of The Weir Group.
Lord Smith was also involved in important financial groups. He was a member of the Financial Services Authority and the Financial Reporting Council. He led a group that wrote The Smith Report in 2003, which gave advice on how companies should be managed. He also advised the First Minister of Scotland as part of the Council of Economic Advisers (Scotland).
Key Business Roles
Lord Smith has chaired many important organizations. These include Scottish and Southern Energy, The Weir Group plc, and the UK Green Investment Bank. He was also a non-Executive Director at Standard Bank Group Limited.
In 2008, he was chosen to be the Chair of the organizing committee for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. This was a huge event for Glasgow. In 2012, he became the first Chair of the British Green Investment Bank, which helps fund environmentally friendly projects.
As mentioned, in 2014, he was appointed to lead the Scotland Devolution Commission. This role was important for deciding how more powers would be given to Scotland.
He has also been a leader in professional and cultural organizations. He was a Past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. He chaired the board of Trustees for the National Museums of Scotland for many years. He was also involved with the Museums and Galleries Commission and the British Council.
Lord Smith was President of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. He also advised the Scottish Government on education, especially for young people aged 16-19 who were not in school or working.
Family Life
Robert Smith married Alison Marjorie Bell in 1969. When he was knighted in 1999, she became Lady Smith. Later, when he became a peer, she became The Lady Smith of Kelvin. They have two daughters.
Lord and Lady Smith also own a vineyard and a guesthouse in South Africa.
Awards and Recognition
Lord Smith has received many honorary degrees from universities. These include the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Strathclyde, and Paisley. He was the Chancellor of the University of Paisley for 10 years, starting in 2003. During his time, the University of Paisley merged with Bell College to become the University of the West of Scotland in 2007.
In 2010, the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors gave him an Honorary Fellowship. This was to recognize his support for the internal audit profession.
In 2014, he received an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. This allowed him to use the letters "FRSGS" after his name. In 2015, he won the Royal Society of Edinburgh/Adam Smith Medal. This award recognized his leadership in business and his great contributions to public service, especially for his work on the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014. He was also made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2016.
In March 2023, Lord Smith received an honorary doctorate from Judson University in Illinois, USA. He was a guest speaker there, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Eric Liddell's gold medal win at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
Honours and Titles
- Life Peer as Baron Smith of Kelvin, of Kelvin in the City of Glasgow (created May 29, 2008)
- Knight of the Order of the Thistle (2014)
- Knight Bachelor (1999)
- Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (2016)
Lord Smith of Kelvin is a Life Peer in the House of Lords. He sits as a crossbench member, meaning he does not belong to a specific political party.
He was appointed Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 2016 for his public service, especially in Scotland.
