The Queen's College Record 2023

to be our lodger to ease the financial pressures on us, an act that was typical of the
generosity and straightforward openness with which he tackled things.
Obituaries
After graduating from Oxford in 1961, David joined Courtaulds Plc, as a graduate
management trainee. His rise through the management ranks was rapid, at the age
of 27 he was appointed commercial director of the Courtelle division. By this time,
David had married Jetta Nielsen from Denmark. The couple had two daughters,
Tina and Victoria.
David moved from Courtelle to Courtaulds Home Textiles where he became
Chief Executive of their sheeting division. In 1982, he was appointed President of
Courtaulds Fibres North America. This was a significant promotion and offered
challenges which he enjoyed. For the next five years, David and his family lived in
New York. When he left the US fibre division was in a strong market position.
When David returned to the UK our paths crossed in an unusual manner. I had come
from a meeting on Euston Road and leapt into a black cab just outside Baker Street
Station. A big figure was simultaneously bombing into the other door and we met
on the back seat. After that we were in touch one way and another over the next
40 years. When I became Director of the Bradford School of Management at a time
when much support from industry was needed, I refreshed our Advisory Board and
David was the first name on the list. He was absolutely in his element and his many
years of Senior Executive leadership made him a valuable member of our team.
The next significant role David held was as Head of Corporate Communications for
Courtaulds Plc. After the successful demerger into Courtaulds Plc (the fibre, paint, and
chemical businesses) and Courtaulds Textiles Ltd in 1990, David remained head of
Corporate Communications for Courtaulds Plc for another year before returning, in 1991,
to the US as CEO of the Coating and Filament business based in Martinsville, Virginia.
This second American adventure was followed by a move to Sydney in 1993 as
CEO of Courtaulds Australian paint business. In 1996 David returned to London, as
a main board Director of Courtaulds Plc, responsible for the global fibre business,
with an emphasis on marketing the new fibre, now branded Tencel. This fibre was
produced in a much more environmentally friendly manner than other viscose fibres,
also totally biodegradable and perhaps it is its green qualities that have contributed
to the success Tencel continues to enjoy today. During David’s period as Director,
the main thrust of his role was to develop the Tencel brand to establish Tencel as
the leading cellulosic fibre of the 21st Century.
Seeking to expand its business, Courtaulds Plc delivered part of its development in
joint ventures, particularly with the Dutch company, Akzo Nobel. After a successful
merger with Akzo Nobel in 1999 the name Courtaulds disappeared and Akzo
combined Tencel with other fibre businesses under the banner Accordis. David
122 The Queen’s College | College Record 2023