Elena Bueno-Davies - Head of Customer Care at Sodexo

I have had the pleasure and privilege to work with David for 18 years, the past 4 with him as my Board Director and Line Manager.

I say privilege and it really is, I have worked harder in these last few years than ever before, because that's what David does, his skill is in making you want to continually strive to be better and as a result we give and gain so much.

As someone with a financial background, the level of detail he knows is phenomenal, especially when working operationally, he is constantly challenging the status quo, always looking for that incremental improvement, that extra efficiency and more times than not he finds it.

As a leader I have complete trust both in him, and in his ability to set the direction for the teams to be led, the fact that his moral compass is pointing firmly in the right direction is a huge added bonus, trust and belief in a leader for me is so important.

We have over the years faced some immensely challenging situations and his ability to navigate through with humour and grace is nothing short of a miraculous, without a doubt he is one of the best in the business.