David Clarke MBE CITP FBCS MACM

Contribution to the Institute

David has overseen membership growth from 38,000, almost doubling to 75,000. During his tenure revenues have grown by over 150%, reserves have grown, and investments have been made to ensure that the Institute remains relevant to IT professionals, industry, academia and the public. The standing and reach of the Institute has never been higher.

As well as leading change, David has in more recent times steered the organisation through a deep and sustained period of economic difficulty for the UK. Despite those challenges, David has created a platform - both financial and organisational - for some of the Institute’s finest hours, such as the recent curriculum changes.

David will be stepping down as CEO in June, leaving an organisation radically different to the one he joined; one that is set up for a sustainable future, ready to be taken forward by his successor. While David has created an environment that empowers others - his team, honorary officers and other volunteers - to succeed on behalf of the organisation, his own personal contribution to the organisation is both unique and unrivalled.

Standing in the profession

In 2011 David was awarded MBE for his services to the IT industry, and he has regularly appeared in lists of the most influential individuals in our sector. Prior to joining BCS, David was head of Trinity Mirror’s Digital Media Division during which time he was responsible for managing the development a large scale UK digital media business which went on to become one of the UK’s top 5 internet portals. As Director, David was responsible for all of Trinity Mirror’s digital media companies which included one of the UK’s leading and fastest-growing ISPs, ic24.

Before this, David was a Director at Virgin, reporting directly to Richard Branson, heading up all of Virgin’s new media and internet activities, including the development of internet trading for many of the Virgin retail businesses, and the ISP Virgin Net. During this time Virgin Net won the UK ISP of the Year award two years running.

Prior to joining Virgin, David spent the previous eighteen years in increasingly senior UK, European and global roles with three global technology companies, Hewlett Packard, Digital Equipment Corporation and Compaq Computers.