In this episode, I sit down with Sir David Michels (the first Sir on the pod!) – former CEO of Hilton, Deputy Chairman of Marks & Spencer, and Non-Executive Director at British Land and EasyJet – to explore his stellar corporate and non-executive career.

If you’re interested in leadership, decision-making and the realities of running capital-intensive businesses, this conversation offers direct insight from someone who’s done it at the highest level.

Key Topics Covered In This Episode:

· From school dropout, waiting tables to building one of the most impressive corporate CV’s

· Brilliant basics - why asking questions, listening and understanding people has shaped his approach to leadership

· International Growth - Taking UK hotels to the US market

· Turning Around Stakis - Navigating a multi-bank restructure involing 27 parties

· Hilton & Ladbrokes - Managing global brands, major acquisitions and the shift from owner to flag

· Real Estate vs. Operations - Why hotel ownership carries more risk than many investors realise

· Life as a Non-Exec - The role of the board, the CEO relationship, and where governance adds value

· Michels & Taylor - Building a hotel advisory and management business

· Career Perspective - On luck, pressure, regrets, and how success evolves over time

And finally...

With £500m to invest - which People, what Property, and which Place would he choose?

Sir David shares his answer, shaped by decades in hospitality and a long-term view on real estate value.

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105 If You Plan to Listen to This Later, You are Guilty of It