David has led organisations for Sir Richard Branson, Sir Christopher Evans, Sir Tom Farmer and managed pioneering bodies such as the UK Stem Cell Foundation, Virgin Health Bank and was appointed as Scotland’s first Drug Czar. He has built and managed facilities as diverse as major hospitals and national biotechnology centres. He is an experienced strategist, government adviser, C-suite executive and committed entrepreneur with credible international experience both as a CEO and senior government adviser.

A clinical pharmacist and biotechnologist, David was named as one of The Future 500 UK ‘Rising Stars’ by The Observer newspaper. He began his career in healthcare and medical distribution before moving to Africa with the World Bank, focusing on Sub-Saharan healthcare infrastructure and developing pharmaceutical supply chains across Southern Africa. In Zambia, he co-managed the 2,700 bed University Teaching Hospital.

“Many leaders are ‘big picture’, Sir Richard Branson, Sir Tom Farmer etc., and my role has been sitting beside them in the room, crafting good strategy, developed through the filter of the 3Ps – the possible, plausible and probable, and delivering on the vision. That’s how you add value and credibility to organisations and brands.”

Most recently, David led the design, build and strategic direction for a major new advanced national biotechnology facility for the Irish government focusing on biopharma and synthetic biology for use within the food & agri and healthcare sectors. His experience extends to industrial biotechnology where he developed a novel green sustainable concrete for Saudi Aramco.

“I have acquired a deep knowledge of strategy and implementation, this has equipped me with a range of skills, acquired on the frontline, which gives me an advantage over ‘specialists’ who tend to be limited in the breadth of their experience by definition. The longer you are in the game the more you know what matters, and importantly, what’s possible – the 3Ps!”

As Chief Executive of Virgin Health Bank David completed a multi-million USD financing of the business and its successful expansion to Qatar. This stem cell business was a joint venture between Sir Richard Branson (Virgin), Professor Sir Christopher Evans and the Qatar Foundation. He later went on to develop health policy for Qatar’s largest private healthcare group.

Professor Sir Christopher Evans and David created and launched the UK Stem Cell Foundation, an initiative backed by the UK Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, where David and Sir Chris raised over USD 32.5 million to fund seven pioneering stem cell clinical trials. He was a member of the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) Assessment Board.

Mid-career, as an Investment Manager at the Scottish Development Agency, David was responsible for developing Scotland’s biotech industry through identification and investment in over 30 new opportunities with access to a GBP 50 million venture fund. Total turnover in the Life Sciences cluster was estimated at £7.4 billion in 2020, with employment in the sector at 18,000 in 2021. (Source: Scottish Government).

As the Scottish Government’s first Drug Czar he created a new national policy and education initiative. An accomplished marketeer he produced a public health campaign during his tenure, winning the prestigious European Advertising Industry Effectiveness Award for evaluated impact on drug experimentation.

As part of the government team that brought the GBP 190 million Healthcare International tertiary hospital project to Scotland, which was the largest foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United Kingdom, David was charged with ensuring the project’s legacy and as part of that initiative, he established the Scottish Biomedical Research Trust – a collaboration between Scotland’s medical universities. The project office he established was evaluated and selected by the UK Treasury as one of only two UK projects that demonstrated best practice and value for money in economic development. (Source - Financial Times).

He has advised the Scottish and UK Governments, several African countries, and was appointed as a GlobalScot, an ambassadorial role for the Scottish Government.

With over 30 years’ international experience as a CEO and government adviser, David has a wealth of transferable business and sector experience.

A pioneering background in technology underpins his strong entrepreneurial drive. He has an extensive network of contacts and has worked successfully in the UK, Europe, USA, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.