David started his working life in the Merchant Navy as a Marine Engineering Officer. After 10 years, and with a family, he took the brave decision to do a degree as a mature student and convert from Marine to Mechanical Engineering.
On completion of the degree he joined what is now BAE Systems as an Engineering Graduate working on Airframe Systems. An opportunity arose to move into Training and he worked in Management Development designing and running courses for professional and management staff. His next career move was into HR as a generalist managing the company’s Warton site with additional responsibilities for Health and Safety, and Occupational Health Departments.
He then took on roles as site general manager for Woodford (Cheshire) and Brough (Yorkshire) again incorporating a broad range of disciplines with additional responsibility for community relations. This led to his appointment as HR Director for the Regional Aircraft business with site responsibilities for Prestwick, Weybridge, Toulouse, Washington (USA), Hatfield and Woodford. The nature of the business resulted in major restructuring into a customer support business upon the cessation of manufacturing of Jetstreams and Regional Jets.
In 2009 he re-joined the military aircraft business to set up the regulated and mandatory training requirements for BAE Systems to support the contract for maintaining the RAF’s fleet of jets. This was new ground for the business but his experience in civil aviation carried across to help in leading the capability development of both the facilities and the professional and technical development of all the BAE Systems aircraft maintenance personnel. He held the delegated authority of Part 147 for BAE Systems for the approval of training facilities and programmes, leading to the licensing of competent personnel.
He left BAE Systems under a voluntary redundancy programme in 2015 to embark on a career as a consultant.
David’s expertise lies in operating as an HR Director in true generalist fashion. He has also managed shared service contracts as a customer and in delivery. His specialism is Employee Relations and working with Trade Unions and senior management.
