David McCorquodale

Background

About David McCorquodale

I thrive on guiding businesses and people through change. I specialise in supporting leaders with succession or sale planning as well as managing transition through acquisition or international expansion. I am experienced both in building and developing teams and in deploying pragmatic solutions to complex situations based on having been an adviser through boom times and recessions. I spent 32 years with KPMG in Edinburgh and London, 23 of which were as a partner. I was one of the founding fathers of KPMG’s Corporate Finance business and spent over 20 years as an energetic and tenacious deal doer. I advised on many of the firm’s higher profile transactions and in 2003 gained recognition from the advisory community by becoming the first winner of the Real Deals Adviser of the Year Award. I have worked extensively in the Retail sector and also have considerable experience in the food and drink, textiles and biotech sectors. With a two year secondment at the Takeover Panel and experience of 11 flotations, I am equally comfortable with public companies as I am in the private company arena. My last four years with KPMG were as Head of Retail where I oversaw the development of a broad, sector-focussed consultancy business built through recruitment and acquisition. Under my leadership, KPMG’s Retail practice grew from £45m to £75m in revenues. I was recognised in Retail Week’s Top 100 most influential people in the Retail sector for three years. I am a Regent of The University of Edinburgh and also served on the University’s Campaign Board which raised £350m. I am also an Ambassador for both The Retail Trust and The Pennies Foundation. I decided to move on from KPMG in April 2017 and have deliberately limited my workload to spend time with my family and friends and play golf. I have ‘kept my hand in’ with a Trustee role at Retail Trust (until 2024) and as a Non Executive Director of CJ Lang & Son.