it opened its very first care home, station court in kirkcaldy in fife in scotland in may 1989 and four seasons health care remained a small operator building up to just seven care homes in scotland by 1997. the size and fortunes of the business were then dramatically changed with the appointment by chief executive robert kilgour of hamilton anstead as joint chief executive, (robert subsequently left the company in early 2000 - 101 homes - and made his final financial exit from the company in 2005). there followed a rapid expansion programme for the business which transformed it within seven years into the largest care home operator in the uk (it was subsequently overtaken). the business was attractive to many suitors and as a result it was sold for £775 million in 2004. anstead ceased to be ceo in 2005.