David Cole, MBA

David is an independent strategic advisor, consultant and mentor, specialising in children's health innovation, digital health transformation, strategic growth, and commercialisation.

David has extensive experience building, leading and motivating teams over a 24+ year career with IBM. He is a skilled technologist, senior business leader, strategist, social entrepreneur and creative thinker. Most recetly he lead IBM Watson Health and a team of senior healthcare and life sciences consultants across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

David is seen as a thought leader on artificial intelligence, digital health and innovation, especially within the paediatric space. In 2023 he completed a research paper on the environment and resources required to advance children’s health that delivers impact and sustainability, as part of his final MBA thesis.

David is a regular public speaker and has a close working relationship with various parts of the University of Oxford and Saïd Business School, where he has been a digital health expert in residence and start up mentor.

David has also tutored at the University of Oxford and the Paris Medical School on the future of technology in healthcare. David measures his own success by that of others that he is fortunate enought to work with and help. He is seen as a dedicated, empathetic leader with strong personal integrity, enabling sustained high levels of employee morale, loyalty, and personal commitment. He has consistently received commendations for his leadership and coaching style both from executive management, his peers, and his teams.

David lives in rural Oxfordshire in the UK, with his wife and 3 young children. Away from his professional and charity work, David is a keen triathlete (having raced all distances up to and including Ironman), cricketer and wine enthusiast. He also volunteers as a coach for U6s, U8s & U10s Hockey at Oxford Hawks Hockey Club.

January 2023 - Present

STRATEGIC AND COMMERICAL ADVISOR, ALDER HEY INNOVATION

Supporting Alder Hey Children's Hospital's innovation unit, Alder Hey Innovation, with their commercial and growth objectives.

Amongst other projects, leading the commercial strategy for their congenital heart remote patient monitoring (RPM) platform, Little Hearts and Home, and AI Platform, Was Not Brought, which predicts which patients are most likely to miss appointments, allowing hospitals to intervene before the appointment is missed. Saving the Trust money and reducing wasted clinical time, whilst ensuring that children and young people are receiving the care they need, in a timely manner.

April 2023 - Present

STRATEGIC AND COMMERICAL ADVISOR, SHEFFIELD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Commercial advisor for the soon to be built National Center for Child Health Technology. Working with all stakeholders across the Trust and Sheffield and South Yorkshire region to formulate a plate for sustainabiluty and growth.

April 2023 - Present

CHAIR AND CO-LEAD
CHILDREN'S HEALTH IMPACT ACCELERATOR

Chairing a 10-week non-equity startup programme based in Liverpool and London, funded by Innovate UK in partnership with start-up builder Founders Factory. My role is to lead mentor recruitment, co-hort selection and build in paediatric specific workshops to the main Founder Factory programme. I also chaired both selection days and final pitch day.

The programme is aimed at spinouts, start-ups, and entrepreneurial minded academics. Supporting ambitious founders to develop and test their innovative solutions by providing expert support, mentorship and connection into key healthcare communities.

Founders have access to vital resources to help develop and test their innovative solutions for children, including functional support across product, growth and fundraising, access to mentors and expertise across health and life science, as well as an established network of hospitals, such as Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

January 1999 - February 2023

VARIOUS COMMERCIAL, SALES, MARKETING & LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

December 2020 - February 2023

EMEA Leader & Associate Partner, IBM Healthcare Consulting

December 2020 - April 2022

Head of Watson Health, EMEA

January 2018 - December 2020

IBM Watson Health, Head of Business Development and Innovation EMEA

January 1999 - November 2019

Various commerical sales, leadership, marketing, partnership and operational roles. Including as part of the origional commercilisation team tasked with bringing IBM's AI platform 'Watson' to market.

Selected other hightlights

ACTIVE ADVISORY AND MENTOR ROLES