Member Spotlight
David Fraser
07973 271709
Within a few minutes of meeting David Fraser it is clear he knows his own mind. Not one to suffer fools gladly or necessarily take the most diplomatic approach he is a man who enjoys getting things done. His business career has, in the latter years, been about exactly that – about getting stuck in, sorting some pretty tough problems and turning things around.
David has always had an entrepreneurial streak. During his final year at Dingwall Academy he used the school camera club darkroom to run a thriving business processing black and white photographs – an uncanny similarity with another famous businessman Alan Sugar who David would end up dealing with later in life.
David has had a wide ranging career and was working with Microsoft in the exciting early years as it’s European Managing Director. This is where he dealt with Alan Sugar and tying up the ends of the deal for MS Windows, eventually agreed directly with Bill Gates and Alan over a tennis match.
He decided to retire at 40 years of age but a part time role with a venture capital company was the end of his brief retirement and he spent the next 20 years buying and selling a whole range of companies, and co-founding Infobank Ltd which was listed on the London stock market in 1998. From 2002 – 2005 David was a non-executive Director of PMP, Australia’s largest printer and newspaper publisher which required some major restructuring. From 2005 – 2008 David was Chairman of 1st Software Ltd, a Singaporean company which traded in India and China.
Having founded ten companies and had no losses, and served on five Listed Company Boards, he has much practical experience to offer. This was put to good use when he was Deputy Chair of Fusion from 2009, taking over as Chairman in March 2011. Fusion exists to link and support businesses and is very much built upon members sharing information for the benefit of other members. This is a role that David fills naturally. He is a GlobalScot and a regular speaker at a variety of conferences.
David is a member of MENSA, and member of Institute of Directors in UK and Singapore, and lapsed C. Eng. a STEM Ambassador and a member of Chevrolet Car Club UK.
Having worked all round the world David has a keen eye for opportunities. He is a permanent resident of Singapore, and regularly travels there to look after his business interests.
David is a keen photographer and was a keen rower, having once won a coxed pair from Oxford to Henley. He is also very fond of buns, biscuits and tea or coffee. This seems a ridiculously small but much advised investment in time for anyone who would like to learn some tips from someone who really has “walked the talk”.
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