Hi, i’m Robert Ancill
CEO and Chairman
With a career spanning over two decades, Robert is a seasoned expert in interior design with a focus on hospitality, residential, and commercial design. Based in Los Angeles, Robert has overseen the design of over 89 new brands and 800 commercial openings and remodels across 24 countries, including the US, UK, Kuwait, Dubai/Abu Dhabi (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, China, Malaysia, France, Qatar, Afghanistan, Tanzania, and Pakistan. This extensive international experience has equipped Robert with a deep understanding of the versatile and ever-shifting world of design in multiple industry sectors.
Born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, Robert originally embarked on a culinary and hospitality journey by joining the Glasgow College of Food Technology and graduating with the HCIMA qualification. Over the years, he worked in an executive capacity for a range of well-known corporations, including Aroma Café Group (VC-backed café start-up sold to McDonald's), The House of Albert Roux, Planet Hollywood, House of Fraser, Safeway, Panera Bread, and HMS Host.
In 2002, Robert founded The Next Idea, [TNI], a high-energy, innovative international hospitality consulting agency specializing in concept development, interior design, and restaurant franchising. As the business developed, there was a clear dominance in design, leading to the division of the TNI business into separate Consulting and Design entities. As the driving force behind TNI Group, Robert has expanded the business into sectors such as multi-family, hospitality, commercial, and residential.
Currently, Robert serves as a consultant and advisor to several restaurant chains in growth or repositioning mode. Additionally, he provides executive coaching services to newer CEOs and executives within the hospitality design industry, helping them navigate the complexities of business operations, scaling, and design.
With a unique blend of hands-on experience in restaurant operations and a keen eye for innovative design, Robert continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the hospitality industry, always aiming to deliver the next great idea.