What I’ve Done - David Pattison

I’ve never really chosen my career, it chose me.

1974

At age 18 I started in the media side of advertising joining one of the UK’s largest agencies, taking my first job placing TV ads during a time of major industrial upheaval known as the three day week.

1980s

By the mid 1980's i was working at my 5th advertising agency. In 1985, at the age of 29' I was a main board director at WCRS, and by 31 part of its executive board.

1990-1996

With two partners I co-founded PHD in London, originally called Pattison Horswell Durden, a disruptor in the market with a focus on planning and strategy not just volume buying.

Black and white portrait of three men in suits standing closely in a staggered line, with serious expressions.

1996-2000

in 1996 we sold the business to AMV plc who were later acquired by Omnicom. During the 5 year earn out I attended an Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School. PHD was voted agency of the year on 3 occassions in this period

2000-2006

From London I moved to New York to launch PHD in the US across 7 cities. Then returned to open offices across Moscow, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and more; our global footprint grew rapidly. I was the first person from the media sector to become president of the advertisong trade body The IPA, and was voted Media Achiever of the Year by Campaign magazine in 2006

Man in a black suit holding a microphone and speaking at a podium with a background displaying the letters 'phd' and the phrase 'pioneering from'.

2007

After 17 years of building and leading the business and having done every job there was to do, I stepped back from PHD. Three months laterI joined a fast-growing digital media agency business; iLG as CEO.

Man in a dark blazer speaking with hands gesturing against a black background.

2008

My role at iLG was to review the strategic options and i advised the board that we should sell the business and that i should lead the sale. The business was sold to a Private Equity backed MBO in 2008 for close to 14x EBITDA. I learned a lot from success and failure.

2010-2015

I started the next stage of my career. Working more closely with founders and leadership teams as a non-exec, chair and mentor. I got involved mainly in businesses across advertising, AdTech, MarTech, and publishing, helping them navigate growth, funding, and the challenges of scaling. I also fulfilled a lifelong dream of getting involved in a motorsport business.......

2013-2018

I took to the track as a racing driver. Initially in the support races of The British GT Championship. For the last 4 years competing in the main championship in GT4 with Tolman Motorsport. I won a lot of ugly trophies.

Two race team members wearing dark uniforms and sunglasses signing documents at an outdoor event.

2016-Today

I have continued working closely with founders and leadership teams as a chair, mentor, and became an investor in the businesses I was involved with and some others. I stopped doing arms length non-exec roles as i found them unfulfilling. As well as the sector i came from i have experienced working with businesses across FinTech, Construction, exhibitions and recently AI Tech. Helping them navigate the knotty problems of business and grow to a successful conclusion.

2021-2022

In 2021 I published my book, The Money Train: 10 Things Young Businesses Need to Know About Investors, a guide to the investment. It won the Business Book Awards in the Startup/Scale-up category in 2022.

Present

In recent years I’ve focused on sharing what I’ve learned through writing, speaking, and continuing to back ambitious founders and leadership teams as a chair, mentor, and investor. I’ve carried on supporting companies that value experience, honesty, and a steady hand through growth. I Teach a Venture Capital/Private Equity module as part of the MBA programme at Alliance Manchester Business School and Mentor CEO's of charities on a pro bono basis.

My Story

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When I look back, I realise I’ve always been drawn to building things - not just companies, but people and ideas. I never had a grand plan. I left school, took a job in media, and discovered I loved the pace, the challenge, and the sense that you could create something from nothing if you worked hard enough and surrounded yourself with good people.

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Co-founding PHD was one of those rare moments when timing, belief and partnership came together. We wanted to do media differently, to bring planning and creativity into a space that had become all about volume and buying power. We didn’t have deep pockets, but we had conviction. Winning The Guardian as our first client gave us a platform, and from there the business took off faster than any of us imagined.

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What made it special wasn’t just the growth, it was the culture. We built a place that celebrated ideas, encouraged smart risk-taking, and gave talented people room to lead. Watching teams thrive and clients trust us with their brands, that was the real success.

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Selling the business and later stepping away wasn’t easy, but it was the right time. I’d had nearly two decades of running at full speed, learning everything there is to know about leadership, pressure, and the value of integrity when things get tough.

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I went on to learn a lot from my time at iLG. Particularly about the perils of 'bubble' businesses and Private Equity investment. Gaining a lot of useful knowledge for my future roles in helping others.

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At the age of 56 I found a new kind of challenge on the race track. I began competing as a racing driver in the British GT Championship, something I’d always wanted to do from the age of five but never seemed to have the time for. Racing demanded the same things I’d valued in business: preparation, discipline, teamwork and calm under pressure. The difference was that every decision happened at 150 mph. It was exhilarating, humbling, and one of the most rewarding learning curves of my life.

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During and since then, I’ve worked across a broad mix of industries; advertising, marketing, publishing, motorsport, construction, AdTech, MarTech, FinTech, production and broadcasting. Every sector has its own rhythm, but the fundamentals are the same: strong leadership, sound strategy, and clarity about where the value lies. That’s what I’ve tried to bring to every business I’ve been involved with.

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I’ve sat alongside founders as they raised capital, merged companies, fixed cashflow, or prepared for sale. Sometimes my role has been hands-on; other times it’s been a light touch. Opening doors, asking difficult questions, or simply giving a CEO the confidence to trust their instincts. I’ve been fortunate to work with some brilliant people and to see great businesses come through tough moments and thrive.

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Those experiences have given me a broader view of what makes companies succeed. Not just the numbers, but the people, the timing, and the ability to keep your head when things get complicated. It’s been a privilege to be part of so many journeys, each one reminding me that growth, at any stage, is never a straight line.

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For fun I love watching cricket, I am a season ticket holder at Crystal Palace football club, watch a lot of live music and I travel the world with my fishing buddy to flyfish.

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Discover what I do now