David Nussbaum

David Nussbaum

David Nussbaum is Chief Executive of The Elders, a group of independent global leaders working to promote peace and human rights, founded by Nelson Mandela. David is also the Senior Independent Director of Drax Group plc, a Board member of the International Budget Partnership, and a member of the Ethical Investment Advisory Group of the Church of England.

From 2007 to 2016, David was Chief Executive of WWF-UK, where he also chaired the international WWF Global Climate and Energy Initiative.  Prior to that, he was Chief Executive of Transparency International, the leading global anti-corruption organisation, based in Berlin.

David originally qualified as an accountant with Price Waterhouse, and moved into venture capital with 3i.  He then worked in manufacturing industry, latterly as Finance Director of Field Group plc through its management buyout and subsequent successful flotation, before joining Oxfam in 1997 as Finance Director and a Deputy Chief Executive.  In 2000 he was seconded for six months to head up Oxfam’s operations in India.

Between 1991 and 2006, David was a non-executive director, and later Chair, of Traidcraft plc, and subsequently a non-executive director of Low Carbon Accelerator and Vice Chair of the fair trade organisation Shared Interest Society until 2014.  He served on the Marks & Spencer Executive Advisory Board on Sustainability from 2011 to 2017; and was also (non-executive) Chair of Transparency International UK until 2017.

David holds degrees in theology from Cambridge and Edinburgh universities, an MSc in Finance from London Business School and an honorary doctorate from Newcastle University.