David Read

Founded Prestige Purchasing in 1998. Formerly Purchasing Director of Granada Group and Forte plc.

David began his working life as a chef, having qualified with a degree in Hotel & Catering Administration in Bournemouth in 1976. Moving into management he joined Crest Hotels in 1979, rising to the position of Operations Director, before the then THF organisation purchased the business in 1990. He held a number of senior Director positions within the new Forte Group until in 1993 when he assumed the role of Purchasing Director. In 1996 Granada acquired Forte, David stayed on to oversee the integration, and to deliver over £35m of improvement in the first 18 months. He departed to set up Prestige Purchasing in 1998.

David is a passionate musician and published his first CD of self-composed music in December 2009 www.iknowthatishouldknowyou.com. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Alzheimer’s Research UK. His other main interests are food and wine – he is a Director of The Academy of Food & Wine, and sits on the Business Forum of Food Ethics Council.