David is one of Canada’s most sought after public affairs and corporate strategists, having helped CEOs manage crises, union leaders shape their public appeals and directing winning campaigns for both prime ministers and premiers.
With almost 30 years of experience in research and communications analysis, David has built a reputation as a source of smart, strategic and strong counsel. David’s strategic and political acumen could be seen on CBC’s The National, where he provided biweekly commentary on “The Insiders” panel from 2008 to 2017 and during the 2019 federal election.
With his dual expertise in strategy and research, David excels in brand image and reputation management. He has helped clients such as Maple Leaf Foods with crisis management and brand recovery. He has worked with industries such as the nuclear energy sector to reposition them publicly within the context of a more environmentally-conscious marketplace.
David’s policy experience includes working on nine consecutive federal government budgets, most notably the landmark 1995 budget that paved the way for eliminating the federal deficit by dramatically cutting government spending. That budget turned conventional political wisdom on its head by making a “bad news” budget a huge political success.
David has also served as Premier Kathleen Wynne’s campaign co-chair in 2014 and 2018 and as the national campaign chair for the Liberal Party in 2004 and 2006. He has participated in many other campaigns at the national and provincial level.
He is frequently featured as a speaker and lecturer at universities and conferences on such topics as politics, economic policy, consumer and branding issues, energy, health care, crisis management, agriculture, and the environment.
A Saskatchewan native, David earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Regina and was called to the Bar in Ontario after receiving his LLB from the University of Saskatchewan.