Every time I work with the SpeakersHub team, I'm blown away by the quality of people on their roster and the access they have to a who's-who of innovative, provocative and leading edge thinkers and leaders. If you want to build knowledge and get insight from people who are at the very top of the latest thinking and leaders in their field then Sarah and the team are the people to talk to.
Biography
Digital Transformation at The Guardian
The three-year business plan to transform the Guardian that David implemented has been described as one of the most significant media turnarounds in recent history and has laid the foundation for how quality journalism could be funded around the world.
The strategy was built around growing a far deeper set of relationships with its audience, doubling down on it’s purpose, a re-imagining of the journalism, a sustainable business model and a newly focused, data driven, agile, digital organisation that reflected the Guardians independence and its mission.
David’s Speaker Themes
David can share what it is to lead in a context of constant change, where the only certainty is disruption. He can talk about the turbulent journey from selling newspapers in the UK to a global free-to-access online news organisation that is a source of hope, inspiration and information for millions around the globe.
He describes with extraordinary candour what it’s like to face unprecedented corporate challenges as a leader, the need for constant and transparent dialogue with employees, the introduction of OKR’s (objectives and key results) and small cross-divisional teams to encourage fast-paced innovation, the need to lead through purpose and never losing sight of why you exist as an organisation.
He will talk of leading from the front, middle and back and knowing when to step in and when to step back and why leaders have to push themselves to address the issues of inclusivity and diversity.
David joined Guardian Media Group (GMG) in 2011 and was appointed chief commercial officer in 2012. A year later he took on increased accountability in the newly-created role of Deputy Chief Executive, with responsibility for leading commercial operations in the UK, the US and Australia, and integrating them as one global organisation. In 2015 he was appointed CEO of GMG taking on the responsibility for leading the commercial and financial business strategy. In addition, he was founder and Chairman of GMG Ventures, a £42m fund making early-stage investments in innovative businesses in the media technology sector.
David’s work at ScienceMagic.Inc
David has recently co-founded ScienceMagic.Inc which works with leading brands and world-class talent to answer the challenges of building meaningful relationships with consumers in this complex and dynamic world. ScienceMagic.Inc is grounded in three core capabilities of Strategic Science, Creative Magic and Digital Experience to grow real and enduring value for both Brands and People of influence. They believe that established brands urgently need immediate solutions to make the shift in a post-covid world, from offline to a new physical, digital, mobile and virtual world. Personality and Purpose are the future of all brands and all consumers are looking for inspiration in a new world of genuine engagement and entertainment.
David is also Chair at The British Fashion Council and a voting member of BAFTA. He was voted Media Leader of the Year in 2019 and regularly speaks on leadership at London Business School.