David Pollock

Executive Chairman

David founded Chess in 1993, named after his two eldest children, Charlie and Jessie.

Chess was #1 in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For 2018, 2nd in both 2016 and 2017, 3rd in 2015, in the top 100 for each of the last 15 years. David was also awarded 'Best Leader' by The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2017 and 2018 and received the 'Innovation in Business' Award for his unique happiness training in 2016.

He was named EY UK Technology Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007, Telecoms Industry Entrepreneur of the Year 2008, Institute of Directors 'Cheshire Director of the Year' 2009 and was made a Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire in 2012. David received an Honorary Doctorate of Business from University of Chester in May 2022.

His business career began age 16 at school, promoting bands and DJ’s to his friends. Dyslexic it took David 6 attempt to pass his English GCSE. He hitch hike around the world aged 19. Moving to Los Angeles and New York in his 20’s to work on TV shows, commercials and music videos production. Over his career, he's founded many businesses, across a range of sectors; utilities, property, energy, organic food, online marketing and employee engagement. Chess has been his primary focus for the last 30 years.

David moved from CEO to Executive Chairman of Chess in 2018, he remains at the heart of decision making at the Alderley Edge headquarters business. Chess employs over 360 people throughout the UK, serving over 30,000 business customers in the Information Communications Technology sector and has completed over 100 acquisitions. Following Covid it has become a Home 1st employer.  

In his charitable work David is an active supporter of the Prince's Trust, he was Chairman of the North West Development Committee for 10 years until 2020. He's a Vice President of East Cheshire Hospice and was a Trustee for 5 years of Active Cheshire a charity that encourages health and wellbeing.

David enjoys taking on physical challenges whilst raising money for charity. In 2008 he led a team that won the Prince's Trust Costa Rica Challenge, and in 2009 his team came 2nd out of 42 teams in the Prince's Trust Wild UK Challenge. In 2011 and 2012 his team won The Prince's Trust Mersey to Tyne Bike Challenge. In 2012 he summited Mont Blanc and Kilimanjaro in 2013. In July 2022 he is taking on the bike challenge Raid Alpine Geneva to Nice, 770km, 18000m of climbing in 6 days in aid of Cure Parkinson’s.