David has worked for the European Commission since 1995 and in the Joint Research Centre (the Commission's in-house science service) since 2011 as Head of Unit responsible for science advice to policy and the JRC Work Programme, in particular in the area of Growth, the Economy, Safety and Security. From 2011-2013 he was also responsible for foresight in the JRC. From April to October 2015 he was Acting Director for Policy Support Coordination.

From 1998 to 2011 he worked in DG Health and Consumers, involved in policy strategy, enforcement issues and consumer research, data and statistics. From 2007 to 2011 he was Head of Unit for consumer market monitoring and analysis, responsible for the Consumer Markets Scoreboard and work on consumer behaviour. Before the Commission he worked for the UK Treasury in Brussels and London and has also worked in the City of London as a corporate financier and in the British Army. He studied History at Cambridge University. He is married with two daughters.