David Daniel advises clients across industries on CEO and director recruitment, CEO succession planning and transitions, board effectiveness and other key governance and senior leadership issues facing boards and CEOs.
David has more than three decades of leadership experience spanning professional services and consumer products, and he has led businesses through varied market conditions and economic cycles. He was chair of Spencer Stuart and of the firm’s board of directors between 2018 and 2024, having served on the board of directors for seven years before becoming chair. David was Spencer Stuart’s CEO from 2001 to 2012. As a result of these experiences, David brings to his consulting work firsthand perspectives on the top issues influencing organizations’ senior leadership and governance needs.
Experienced consultant; experienced CEO
- David joined the firm in 1994 as a consultant in the Consumer Practice.
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In his 11 years as CEO, David and his leadership team expanded the firm’s global footprint, strengthened its position in board and CEO search, and developed new services and capabilities, including CEO succession planning, senior-level executive assessment and board effectiveness. He remained active in client relationships throughout his tenure as CEO. From 2014 to 2018, David served as the firm’s global leader of its Private Equity Practice.
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Prior to Spencer Stuart, David spent 15 years shaping some of the world's leading brands. He served as president/CEO of Simint USA, the American division of Armani Jeans; president of Louis Vuitton, North America; and CEO of Evian Waters of France (U.S.). David began his career in the executive development program at Lord & Taylor and then spent five years in various brand management roles at Pepsi-Cola.
David is a director on the board of Point B, a technology consulting firm based in Seattle. He is also a board director of the privately held Chilton Trust Company. He previously served on the advisory boards of the Yale School of Management, the Yale Center for Customer Insights, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, Connecticut. He has a master's degree in public and private management from the Yale School of Management and a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University.