Biography

Robert Gaines-Cooper was born in Reading, UK in 1937 and started Gainesmead Group, his first business venture, in 1958. Gainesmead Group imported and distributed jukeboxes around UK and was sold to MAM plc in 1971. Mr. Gaines-Cooper then became Finance Director of MAM plc.

Robert Gaines-Cooper first visited Seychelles, his home, and Bird Island in 1973. Shortly there after in 1974, he formed a property development business in Canada called Claremont Development Corporation.

He shifted his focus to Chelle Plastics when it was incorporated in Seychelles in February 1975. Beginning operations in 1976, the company's factory provided training and employment for local Seychellois. Chelles Plastics eventually shifted its focus to producing medical products and became known as Chelles Medical in 1993.

Gaines-Cooper met his future wife Jane in August 1975 and settled in Seychelles at Plantation Bois Noir shortly thereafter. The Bank of England confirmed his non-resident status and he was granted a residency permit by the Seychelles' government in 1976.

The Seychelles government was overthrown in a military coup on June 5, 1977. Many British expatriates returned to UK, but Mr. Gaines-Cooper stayed at his home at Plantation Bois Noir as he considered himself part of the Seychelles community and did not intend to move back to the UK.

In 1986, Mr. Gaines-Cooper's company began developing a Laryngeal mask at his Seychelles factory. In the following year, Gaines-Cooper and a group of shareholders took over Orthofix SrL, an orthopedic products company, for which Gaines-Cooper served as Chairman of the Board until December 2006.

Robert Gaines-Cooper married his wife Jane in April 1993 and completed renovations to his home, Plantation Bois Noir, in 1996, one year before the birth of his son James. With his home complete and his family settled, Mr. Gaines-Cooper intends to spend the rest of his days in Seychelles.

Robert Gaines-Cooper has contributed to charitable causes, donates time and money to needy organizations, and provides support to his church and community. The Chelle Medical factory provides jobs and opportunities to local residents and the Seychelles community considers Mr. Gaines-Cooper to be a Seychellois.

Today, Robert Gaines-Cooper still resides at Plantation Bois Noir, where he intends to live for the rest of his life. Mr. Gaines-Cooper is very active in his community, donating regularly to those in need and providing assistance to organizations that provide much-needed services to his neighbors in Seychelles.