David is a serial non-executive director and chairman. His board experience has been principally for private companies, with extensive executive experience in public listed entities. David has built a large network in private equity and venture capital, working with 25 different private equity funds, and completing multiple deals in the technology and travel sectors. He has advised CEOs, mentored founders and invested in several start-ups. His global commercial and operational executive experience has given him business and cultural understanding of all parts of the world.
David spent seven years as President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the global forum for business leaders in the travel and tourism industry. David developed an un-paralleled network of contacts in both private and public sectors. He was regularly interviewed on CNN, CNBC, BBC and Bloomberg, particularly in times of crisis during natural disasters or terrorist incidents. At the WTTC Global Summits, he had dialogues with many high profile individuals, including Former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, and Former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and David Cameron.
Previous non executive roles include Chairman of PrivateFly, Chairman of Yuuguu, Director of On the Beach Holidays, Vice Chairman at Worldhotels, and Director at Venere Net SpA.
David’s executive career included CEO Opodo, the pan-European online travel agency, then owned by nine of Europe’s leading airlines, and SVP Sales, Marketing, and IT, on the Board of Hilton Hotels. He has 19 years of extensive sales, marketing, and operational experience worldwide in aviation, with British Airways as Director of Europe and Middle East, and Regional General Manager of Asia Pacific, as well as Managing Director of European Sales at American Airlines.
David graduated from the University of Southampton in the UK, where he received an Honours Degree in Spanish and Latin American studies.