David Kilburn

David Kilburn - Head of Business Development

David Kilburn's years spent working in the world of business means he has the first-hand experience vital to the role of Head of Business Development. After rising up through the ranks of the retail industry and running his own business for years, a step into academia proved the right move to build on his expertise.

After completing his undergraduate studies at Sheffield University and teaching Spanish for a few years, David spent his early career working for large retail companies such as WHSmith Do It All. He held senior positions in both independent and national companies. It was during his time in retail that he developed his excellent commercial skills, particularly in marketing, finance and strategy.

David also ran his own retail business in Manchester for eight years – an experience that was not without its challenges. “Running my own consumer electronics business in Manchester was also an eye opener as I spent a lot of evenings collecting TV rental money in Moss Side and Hulme. I had several scary moments but thankfully talked my way out of them.”

Alongside learning the ups and downs of business, David has completed a CIM Marketing diploma, an MBA and has become a Chartered Marketer. He was recruited by BU, or the Dorset Institute of Higher Education as it was then known, in 1989 to help establish and develop a new degree in Retail Management. This course is now highly regarded by academics and industry professionals and boasts a proud record of 100 per cent graduate employment year on year. “One of my proudest achievements is ensuring that this record stays at its current level by networking with companies and former graduates who are looking for top talent,” says David.

As well as being an Associate Professor of Enterprise at BU, David is responsible for business development, profit generation and graduate employment. He has generated £2.17million income in the past seven years, written 14 successful Knowledge Transfer Partnership bids and project managed a range of major applied research projects. He has carried out consultancy work for regional, national and international companies including Tesco, Best Buy, Waitrose, John Lewis and Mattel. “I’m particularly interested in working with companies to improve their sales and profitability. I’m passionate about delivering great customer service and finding that special niche that differentiates us from the rest. As a great fan of marketing, the creative side of making money has always interested me,” says David.

And it’s this passion that has taken David all over the world. Israel, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Venezuela, Columbia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Chile are just a few of the far-flung places David has worked in….but not without a few scrapes along the way. “Working in Caracas and Bogota was particularly challenging and I remember being in a taxi that was shot at in a downtown district. When I asked the driver in Spanish what it was about he said we had inadvertently driven through someone else’s territory!”

Away from the world of work, when he’s closer to home David is a big sports fan and loves watching his home town teams Manchester United, Salford Rugby League Club and Lancashire Cricket Team. He adds: “I also love shopping and bartering as you would expect from a retailer.”