David Cooksey
Encyclopedia
Sir David James Scott Cooksey, GBE
(born 14 May 1940) is a British
businessman, venture capitalist and politician.
David Cooksey gained a degree in metallurgy
at St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford
. He embarked on a career as an industrial engineer
, rising through the management of the company Formica International, and finally leading the management buy-out of a subsidiary in 1971.
In 1981 he formed Advent Venture Partners, one of the first venture capital
firms in the United Kingdom
, which provided financing for technology-based businesses. He remained chairman until September 2006.
Cooksey was chairman of the Audit Commission
from 1986 to 1995, and as chairman of the Local Government Commission for England
, proposed the introduction of unitary authorities in many areas of England
. In 2006 he undertook a review of UK health research for HM Treasury
.
Sir David was a director of the Bank of England
from 1994 until 2005, including a period as Chairman of Directors from 2001. He was a Governor of the Wellcome Trust
from 1995 to 1999, and was Chairman of the Board of Directors at Diamond Light Source Ltd
from its formation in 2002 until September 2008.
In November 2006, Sir David was appointed Chairman of London and Continental Railways
.
He was knighted in 1993. He was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
(GBE) in the Queen's
Birthday Honours 2007
for public service.
In September 2001, he was given an Honorary Degree by University College London.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 14 May 1940) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman, venture capitalist and politician.
David Cooksey gained a degree in metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
at St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He embarked on a career as an industrial engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, rising through the management of the company Formica International, and finally leading the management buy-out of a subsidiary in 1971.
In 1981 he formed Advent Venture Partners, one of the first venture capital
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
firms in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, which provided financing for technology-based businesses. He remained chairman until September 2006.
Cooksey was chairman of the Audit Commission
Audit Commission
The Audit Commission is a public corporation in the United Kingdom.The Commission’s primary objective is to improve economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local government, housing and the health service, directly through the audit and inspection process and also through value for money...
from 1986 to 1995, and as chairman of the Local Government Commission for England
Local Government Commission for England (1992)
The Local Government Commission for England was the body responsible for reviewing the structure of local government in England from 1992 to 2002. It was established under the Local Government Act 1992, replacing the Local Government Boundary Commission for England...
, proposed the introduction of unitary authorities in many areas of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 2006 he undertook a review of UK health research for HM Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
.
Sir David was a director of the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
from 1994 until 2005, including a period as Chairman of Directors from 2001. He was a Governor of the Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. With an endowment of around £13.9 billion, it is the United Kingdom's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research...
from 1995 to 1999, and was Chairman of the Board of Directors at Diamond Light Source Ltd
Diamond Light Source
Diamond Light Source is the UK's national synchrotron science facility in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Its purpose is to produce intense beams of light whose special characteristics are useful in many areas of scientific research...
from its formation in 2002 until September 2008.
In November 2006, Sir David was appointed Chairman of London and Continental Railways
London and Continental Railways
-History:Created at the time of the privatisation of British Rail it bid for and won the contract from the UK government in 1996 to build and operate High Speed 1 between London and the Channel Tunnel...
.
He was knighted in 1993. He was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(GBE) in the Queen's
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
Birthday Honours 2007
Birthday Honours 2007
The Birthday Honours 2007 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 17 June 2007, to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2007.The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour, and arranged firstly by the country whose ministers advised the Queen on the...
for public service.
In September 2001, he was given an Honorary Degree by University College London.