Robert Kilpatrick

Robert Kilpatrick is appointed Interim CEO and Creative Director at SMIA

Photo: Jean Yuzheng Zhang

Changing Faces

Scottish Music Industry Association names Interim CEO

Arts Professional
2 min read

ROBERT KILPATRICK steps up to become Interim CEO and Creative Director at Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) with immediate effect.

He takes over from outgoing CEO Ronnie Gurr, who was appointed in July 2022. 

Kilpatrick will be supported by the SMIA company board, which recently acquired ten new directors from across Scotland’s music industry.

Since becoming involved with SMIA in 2014, Kilpatrick has had various executive roles in the organisation, including leading the development of its Scottish Album of the Year Award.  

He has experience across the music industry, working for the music licensing organisation PPL and for festivals including The Great Escape and Bestival. He is also the co-founder of the Scottish indie label ICEBLINK LUCK.

Kilpatrick said he was “incredibly honoured and proud and excited” to lead the company, having “lived and breathed the SMIA for almost a decade”.

He continued: “The SMIA and Scotland’s music industry have had no shortage of challenges in recent years and, as we now face rising costs – combined with reduced consumer spending, strains on public funding, and the lasting impacts of both the pandemic and Brexit – artists, industry professionals and music businesses at all levels continue to face instability and require key support.

“The SMIA’s role as a sector-support organisation, therefore, continues to be vitally important, and the strength and depth of experience across our team will allow us to continue to deliver strategic work that makes a meaningful difference.”

Speaking of the new appointment, Nick Stewart, Interim Chair of SMIA, said: “Robert understands the SMIA’s importance better than anyone else. Hard-working and driven, he has been instrumental in achieving the organisation’s aims. 

“He is a powerful, experienced and very capable advocate for the musicians, technicians, promoters, artist managers, tour managers, venues, publishers, agents, label and countless other industry roles that need strong representation and industry development now more than ever.”