David Kester

David Kester is Chief Executive of the Design Council. He has refocused the organisation as a national strategic body for design with priorities around strengthening competitiveness in industry, driving innovation in public services and supporting the growth of our creative economy. Successes have included cross-party support for a policy agenda subsequently agreed with government through the Treasury-backed 'Cox Report'.

New initiatives include the roll-out of a national programme of design-led business support for SME's, and a biennial design promotion to support city regions. Before joining the Design Council, David held senior roles within business, design and the environmental sector including nine years as Chief Executive of D&AD, the design and advertising organisation, and four years at the pressure group Friends of the Earth. He is a Council member of the Royal College of Art, special advisor to the Design Business Association, and a member of key government and industry committees including NESTA, RSA, DTI and DCMS.