David graduated from Cambridge University with an Exhibition and MA in Law and subsequently qualified as a Barrister. He then worked for four years as an Associate with Lehman Brothers and Lazard Freres principally in New York but also London and Tokyo.

David spent the next 15 years working as a Senior Executive within British Steel becoming Commercial Director and a Member of the Executive Committee and a number of private companies, mainly in manufacturing and engineering.

In 1997 David was elected as a Member of Parliament for North Norfolk and went on to be Deputy Chairman and CEO of the Conservative Party. He was also on the Select Committee for Trade and Industry.

In 2002 David became Chairman of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Chairman of Aurelian Oil and Gas Plc. He is currently Chairman of the Care Quality Commission and Chairman of two Free Schools and an Academy.