#261: David Sole – School of CEOs

David Sole is Managing Partner of the School for CEOs which he co-founded in 2011 with Patrick Macdonald, the former CEO of John Menzies plc. David has worked as an Executive Coach since the end of 2000, firstly with the Change Partnership and Whitehead Mann and subsequently in his own business and latterly with the School for CEOs.

The School for CEOs is a boutique executive education business which runs development programmes for aspiring business leaders, taught by an experienced faculty of current and recent CEOs, Chairmen and Non-executive Directors. They are also heavily involved in Inclusive Leadership, supporting leaders with their ED&I agendas.

Prior to becoming an Executive Coach, David spent 11 years working for United Distillers and Diageo in global operations where he was ultimately responsible for the procurement of commodities and neutral spirit across the globe.

Outside of work, he played international rugby for Scotland from 1986 to 1992 and was captain 25 times, a record which stood for over 25 years and included the famous victory over England in 1990 to win Scotland’s third Grand Slam. He also played for the British Lions in 1989 and the Barbarians. He was awarded an OBE for services to rugby football in 1993.

David is currently Chair of Worldwide Cancer Research, where he has been a trustee since 2017. He was also Chair of AM Bid Services until 2020. He served on the Board of sportscotland for 8 years as well as the Board of Quality Meat Scotland. In the past he has been one of three external trustees of the HBOS Foundation, a trustee of the charity Missing People, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Cargilfield School, he has chaired committees of the Prince’s Trust – Action and has been a non- executive director of the Kilchoman Distillery Company.

David has a number of other interests outside of work and was a Roving Brand Ambassador for The Balvenie Malt Whisky for over 12 years – something he describes as a labour of love. He is also a keen amateur photographer; beekeeper and smallholder but he especially enjoys watching his four children play sport.

He has worked extensively with the media and has regularly written newspaper columns for both daily and Sunday papers; he has worked with the BBC, ITV, Sky and Eurosport, commentating on 4 Rugby World Cups and is an accomplished keynote speaker.

Top leadership tip:
It is always important to have the courage and confidence to admit you have made a mistake or don’t know the answer to a problem. Leadership requires you to show humility and humanity – we are after all, human beings, not human doings and leaders would do well to remember that.