About me
For over 20 years I was a senior adviser to UK government ministers and international CEOs across Asia. I now work with senior leaders and CEOs in the UK, Asia, and North America -- helping them find a clearer, calmer, more effective way to lead. My approach rests on a counterintuitive insight: the qualities that make the biggest difference -- clear thinking, sound judgement, genuine connection, creative confidence -- are not produced by working harder. They emerge when leaders allow them space. Higher Performance. Less Effort.
One thing that defined my career was a willingness to say what others wouldn't. In high-pressure environments, senior leaders are rarely told the truth. Leadership can be a lonely place. People play safe, smooth things over, or simply stay quiet. I built a reputation for doing the opposite. Colleagues would sometimes ask me to carry news they couldn't deliver themselves, knowing the CEO would hear it from me differently. Several leaders told me directly that my candour was what they valued most – and that they couldn't get it from anyone else around them. That same quality is at the heart of how I coach.
Testimonials
"I didn't feel I needed coaching. But I'm glad I booked David for some sessions. He was able to draw out aspects hidden in plain sight -- and it repositioned the way I approach work entirely."
Jonathan Hobbs, Business Owner, UK
"Working with David, I went from being driven by what seemed like very real external pressures, to relaxing into intuition, presence, and internal integrity. What surprised me most was that I didn't need fixing — I just needed to 'come back' to myself, which felt really good."
Dan Jones, Founder & Director, Thelearningjay.com
"David coached me on a longstanding career issue. The coaching helped me reach an 'unlock' that changed my perspective. What had seemed like an intractable problem now had a solution."
Julie Nestor, Head of Marketing & Communications Asia Pacific, Mastercard