After leaving school he worked in a range of positions before owning and selling Pacific Waste Management, one of Sydney’s largest commercial and industrial waste management companies.In 1992, David turned his strong business background to sporting administration and became involved in periods of landmark change in both rugby union and rugby league.
He became executive director of the New South Wales Rugby Union in 1992, when he found himself saddled with A$6m debt. By the time he moved on three years later, when he became the chief executive of South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby (SANZAR), the NSWRU was debt free.
While at SANZAR, David negotiated international television contracts
and supervised the establishment of the Super 12 competition.
In 1996, he became the first ‘non-Kiwi’ to be appointed chief executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union, helping to guide the body from its amateurstatus to be among New Zealand’s top 200 companies.
David crossed the Tasman once more in November, 1999 when he took up
the post of chief executive of the National Rugby League of Australia. Once again, he entered a new role at challenging times as the game in Australia moved towards a 14-team competition.
In his two-year tenure he negotiated long-term sponsorship and television rights which provided the financial stability for the code. He alsohighlighted the need for major structural change in the game’sadministration.
In January of this year (2002) he joined Sport England as its chief executive with a brief to modernise England’s leading sports
development agency.
He announced earlier this month he was stepping down from that post having been responsible for driving through a modernisation plan.
Married to Lauren, and with two children, Graeme and Kirsten, David has a strong sporting background. He has played rugby union, cricket, football, hockey, tennis, squash and golf at a competitive level and
remains actively involved in cycling, hiking and walking
Related stories
WRU appoint Moffett
Plotting the right way forward for Welsh rugby