Sir David Davies

Biography

"By profession a banker and international businessman, Sir David started his business career in 1963 with the Chase Manhattan Bank in New York and then with Hill Samuel, the leading English investment bank in New York and then London. In 1973 he became Finance Director of MEPC, at that time the second largest property company in the UK. He moved to Hong Kong in 1983 becoming a Director of Jardine Matheson and Managing Director of Hong Kong Land. He returned to London in the late 1980’s where as Chief Executive of Hill Samuel, he was instrumental in restoring the fortunes of the Bank, eventually selling the business to TSB. At the same time, he was Chairman of Imry Merchant Developers plc.

"Between 1990 and 1998 he served both as Chief Executive and Chairman of the international precious metals group, Johnson Matthey. During this time he was awarded the Knights Bachelor in the 1999 New Year’s Honours List for his work as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment. Current corporate directorships include: Delaware North Companies Inc in the US and Shaftesbury Asset Management (Chairman) in Luxembourg.

"Sir David was also the Chairman of EFG Private Bank Ltd in London. Sir David is active in the charitable field, being involved currently with the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation, St Catherine’s Foundation, Wexford Festival Opera UK Trust. He is also closely associated with the University of Oxford. He is Chairman of the Development Fund for New College, and previously Chairman of the Development Board of the Saïd Business School and Deputy Chairman of the £1.25billion Campaign for Oxford. He was educated at Winchester College, New College Oxford and Harvard Business School."

• UK chair, Global Leadership Foundation