George A. David
George Alkiviades David | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 10, 1937 Petra, Cyprus |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | Chairman emeritus of Coca-Cola HBC AG |
George Alkiviades David MFR (; born 10 June 1937) is a British entrepreneur and philanthropist of Greek Cypriot heritage. He holds the title of chairman emeritus on the board of directors at Coca-Cola HBC AG.
Early life and education
Born in Petra, Cyprus in 1937 to parents Alkiviadis David and Kalliope Leventis, David pursued his early education at the English School, Nicosia (1949–1951) and subsequently at Lindisfarne College in Wales (1951–1955). He completed a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree at the University of Edinburgh in 1959.
David commenced his professional journey with the A.G. Leventis Organization in Nigeria beginning in 1959, advancing to the role of Group Director between 1967 and 1980. During this tenure, he was actively engaged with the Greek and Cypriot diaspora, including serving as president of the Greek Community in Lagos. In 1964, he married Kaity David (née Chordovatzi), with whom he has three children.
Career
From 1981 until 2016, David held the position of chairman on the board of Coca-Cola HBC AG. His corporate governance roles also include board membership at Titan Cement Co. SA from 2001 to 2013 and chairmanship of the board at EFG Eurobank from 2013 to 2014.
Between 1997 and 2010, he was involved in the steering committee sessions of the Bilderberg Group. David contributed as a board member of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) between 1999 and 2013 and currently serves as an Honorary Committee member. Additionally, he participates in the Brookings Institution's International Advisory Council. Since 1981, he has been a Trustee of the A. G. Leventis Foundation and leads its Greek Committee as president.
As a founding figure behind The Hellenic Initiative, David played a key role in creating a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in Greece and Cyprus after their financial crises. He is also affiliated with Leadership 100.
David’s philanthropic efforts extend to numerous educational and cultural organizations: he has chaired the Center for Asia Minor Studies board since 2009; held the chairmanship and currently holds Emeritus Trustee status at the Campion School; and serves as a Regent at the University of Edinburgh. In 1989, he established a scholarship program aimed at supporting students originating from Petra, Cyprus.
Since 1988, he has provided scholarships at Providence College specifically for students of Greek descent and has supported a scholarship program with College Year in Athens since 1992, enabling students from Tufts University to study Greek history and civilization. Furthermore, David has endowed postgraduate scholarships at the University of Edinburgh’s Center for Carbon Innovation for students hailing from Greece or Cyprus.
Organic farming
David is the founder of Atsas Farm, an initiative specializing in dry-land agroecology that transforms arid, rocky landscapes into sustainable ecosystems by emulating natural resilience mechanisms with minimal water use. Atsas Farm also conducts educational programs focused on regenerative agriculture practices.
Awards and Honours
In recognition of his contributions to UK-Greek educational relations, David was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2009. He was awarded Nigeria’s Medal of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR) in 2008 and holds the title Archon Maistor from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
The Faculty of Philology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens conferred an honorary doctorate upon him in 2013. He received Alba Business School’s "Business Unusual Award" in 2014 and was elected Vice Chairman of the Council at the University of Cyprus in 2015. In 2016, he was honored with an honorary doctorate from the Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine.
His appointment as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) came during the 2021 Birthday Honours, recognizing his efforts to promote UK awareness and appreciation of Greek and Hellenic culture.