PHILIP SCOTT, a 40-year-old former nurse, became a rich man yesterday after the care home operator he ran was bought by a US buyout firm. Belfast-born Mr Scott, who is married with a one-year-old daughter, admits to “spending too much time at work” although his dedication has certainly paid dividends — he made about £2 million from the sale of Southern Cross Healthcare to Blackstone Group. He will plough about half the money back into the company.
Trained as a nurse, Mr Scott worked at Belfast City Hospital in the late 1980s before moving into the private sector. A keen footballer and runner, Scott joined Crestacare as UK managing director in 1993, later moving to Tamaris, a rival company, where he was operations director. In an industry that is consolidating fast, both Crestacare and Tamaris have since been acquired by Four Seasons, another rival.
These days Mr Scott, who joined Southern Cross in 2000, is more likely to be doing the buying. Backed by Blackstone, he has the funds available to capitalise on industry consolidation and challenge Four Seasons.