Rob Holmes

As Director of Finance and Operations, Rob and his team are responsible for enabling successful delivery of Design Council's strategic objectives by providing financial oversight and control, fit for purpose systems and processes, and ensuring that the organisation recruits and develops great people with the right skills and experience to make it happen.

Rob brings a wealth of experience from more than 25 years working in financial management and leadership roles in both small and multinational businesses, where he developed a passion for embedding operational excellence within organisations to transform performance, as well as building organisational culture and high performing teams.

Rob joined Design Council from MachineMax - an award-winning tech business focused on providing innovative and design-led digital solutions for the construction and mining sectors to optimise operations, increase productivity and reduce emissions. There, as Chief Operating Officer, he oversaw the growth of the business from a team of 10 to over 100, as well as establishing and growing the finance function and in-house HR and compliance capabilities from scratch.

Rob holds a BA from the University of Nottingham in Human Geography, with a particular emphasis on people and place, and is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). He is also a voluntary trustee on the board of a small London-based education charity, providing much needed tutoring to children from disadvantaged and challenging backgrounds. Outside of work, Rob likes to see friends and family, keep fit and spend time in the garden, as well as frequently travelling to Chicago where his partner is currently working. He also has a passion for architecture and design, with a particular love of mid-century housing.