David Smith (Former People Director, ASDA)

After a career spanning three decades specialising in change management for the likes of the CIPD, the British coal industry during the time of the 1980s miners’ strike and then his acclaimed work as People Director at Asda, David Smith is one of the most influential people within HR today.

Now a highly respected author, business speaker and consultant, he is a sought-after mentor of CEOs and HRDs, and sits on the board of the Institute for Employment Studies.

With a story-telling style that is impactful and practical, he has become synonymous with fusing together leadership, culture, performance management and communication into a cohesive and compelling formula that makes the complex seem simple.

And having transformed the ‘broken’ business at Asda into a highly commercial retailer that became the ‘Best Place To Work In The UK’ in a Sunday Times survey during his tenure, David has ‘been there, done that’ and has the battle scars to prove it.