Through his career, David has gained extensive experience of technology companies and managing international operations. He was previously Chief Executive of Laird PLC where he focused on developing a strong strategy for growth, a common culture and a solid governance foundation, and in transforming the company into an efficient operation where innovation flourishes and customer focus and satisfaction is paramount.
Prior to that David was Vice President, Global Defence & Security at BT Global Services. He also gained extensive senior management experience in international operations from roles at Thales Corporation, Intense Limited (a photonics high-tech start-up), BAE Systems and GEC (Marconi).
David was the Non-Executive Chair of Knowledge Transfer Network Limited, which supports the work of Innovate UK – the UK’s innovation agency
David has held non-executive director and chairman positions in a number of high-tech companies, including the Samsung Thales Corporation (Korea) and WFEL Limited, the Dunedin-backed world’s leading military tactical bridging company.
David studied for a degree in mathematics, graduating in 1984 from the University of York. A mathematician and chartered accountant (FCA) by training, David is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Commerce (RSA), a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and was the 2005 Scottish Entrepreneur of the Year for Technology. In the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours, David was awarded the OBE for services to industry in Scotland.