David Williamson is a successful Scottish

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

 businessman, and former Executive Director (Operations) at Newcastle United

Newcastle United F.C.

Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...

.

Biography

Williamson is originally from Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

, but has lived in the North East

North East England

North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...

 for most of the last 20 years.

In April, 2002 Williamson joined Newcastle Racecourse

Newcastle Racecourse

Newcastle Racecourse is a horse racing course located at Gosforth Park near Newcastle upon Tyne in England. It stages both flat and National Hunt racing, with its biggest meeting being the Northumberland Plate held annually in June.-History:...

 as managing director and during a six year period he transformed their fortunes and helped boost turnover from £2.5m to £6.5m. The Northumberland Plate

Northumberland Plate

The Northumberland Plate is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Newcastle over a distance of 2 miles and 19 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.-History:The event was established in...

 weekend now brings in £30m to the regional economy and he also introduced Ladies' Day which now attracts over 15,000 racegoers.

In April, 2008 Williamson was appointed Executive Director (Operations) for Newcastle United, specifically headhunted by former managing director and chairman Chris Mort

Chris Mort

Christopher "Chris" Mort is an English lawyer and former chairman of Newcastle United Football Club.-Biography:Mort is a lawyer for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he is co-head of the leisure sector group and oversees relationships with companies in the gaming, holidays, hotels, pubs and...

. His focus is said to be widespread, relating to all business-related matters at the club.

Williamson became part of a new-look management structure in place at Newcastle United and were to work closely together with the also newly appointed managing director Derek Llambias

Derek Llambias

Derek Llambias is an English businessman and long-term associate and friend of both Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew.He is currently managing director of Newcastle United...

 and his counterpart Dennis Wise

Dennis Wise

Dennis Frank Wise is an English former football manager and player, and former Executive Director at Newcastle United....

 as executive director (football). Wise though left the club April 1, 2009.

After Newcastle United was relegated to the Championship

Football League Championship

The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...

around 150 full and part-time employees of the club was laid off including Williamson.