David Cooksey

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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.

In November 2006, Sir David was appointed Chairman of London and Continental Railways. He is also currently Chairman of the Board of Directors at Diamond Light Source Ltd.

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.