Chief Executive David Pollock has just been announced as Institute of Directors’ (IOD) Cheshire Director of the Year 2009. David established Alderley Edge based Chess Telecom in 1993 and has been nominated for the award three times in the past and shortlisted last year, but 2009 was obviously his year.
This year the IOD awards celebrate the major contributions made to businesses throughout the regions of the North West. The awards are now in their 6th year and continue to grow in stature. The IOD received a record breaking 200 nominations, making it a difficult task for the judging panel to choose the finalists.
David was chosen by the judging panel for his dedication to his workforce, for how he drives the company to success and for his contribution to the wider community.
After celebrating, David arrived in the office the morning after with his thumbs up and with a beaming smile on his face, “The competition was tough but I was confident I would win this year. I am extremely happy and very proud to receive such a prestigious award. As a personal award, it is particularly special as it recognises not only the work I do for Chess but also the contribution I have made to the wider community, specifically through The Prince’s Trust fundraising efforts.”
Winner of several other entrepreneur awards including Ernst and Young National & Regional Entrepreneur of the Year, David attended University for just a year before leaving to go travelling around the world, where he sold Christmas trees in Canada, cycled rickshaws in Hawaii, window cleaned in Australia and even taught English in Japan all before he was 21. He returned to the USA to start a model and video business working with Fleetwood Mac and Pat Benatar. Since then he ran a number of companies in diverse sectors before founding Chess.
David has developed Chess over the past 16 years into one of the fastest growing companies in the UK and listed in the Sunday Times Fast/Tech Track 100 for the last three years. 35 acquisitions in the last 4 years have played a big part in Chess’ achievements.
David is also an active supporter of the Prince’s Trust, sitting on the North West Development Committee which earlier this year raised £250K at a ball in the presence of HRH Prince of Wales. In 2008, he helped raise over £40,000 in the Costa Rica Challenge, and hopes to raise even more from the Capgemini Wild UK Challenge 2009.
