Sir David Charles Maurice Bell^[1] (born 30 September 1946^[2]) is a businessman, publisher and philanthropist.

He is former Director for People at Pearson plc^[3] and a former Chairman of the Financial Times (1996 to 2009).^[4][5] In November 2012 he became Chair of the Syndicate of Cambridge University Press.

Born in Henfield,^[6] Sir David was educated at Worth School.^[7] He is an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania and Cambridge University.^[6][8]

He is married to Primrose, with three children.^[8]

Having worked at the Oxford Mail (1970–1972), Bell became a news editor at the Financial Times in 1978.^[2] He rose to Managing Editor (1985–1989) before moving to the business side, initially as marketing director (1989–1993).^[2][9] He became Chief Executive in 1993 and chairman in 1996 until 2009.^[9] He was appointed Director for People at Pearson Group in 1998 and Chairman of Pearson in 2003.^{[3][4][5][9][10][11]}

In November 2012 he became Chair of the Syndicate of Cambridge University Press.

As Chairman of the UK's Millennium Bridge Trust (1995 to 2002)^[4][12] David Bell signed off London's Millennium Bridge,^[6] which he could see from his office window at the FT.

He is Chair of the Media Standards Trust,^[13] which helps to administer the Orwell Prize.^[14]

He is a director of ImagineNations, where he is also Secretary and Treasurer.^[15]

He is a Governor at Worth School, a Catholic independent school in Sussex.

Sir David is Chair of Council at Roehampton University.^[8]

Sir David is International Chair of the Institute for War & Peace Reporting, iwpr.net.

Sir David is also Chairman of Sadler's Wells.^[16]

Sir David is a trustee of Common Purpose UK.^[4][6]

Sir David was chairman of Crisis UK for 10 years until 2012.^[17]

Sir David is an assessor on the Leveson Inquiry.^[9]

Sir David Bell has been appointed as the non-executive chair of the steering committee driving the development of the National Equality Standard.

He is also on the Royal National Theatre Honorary Council.^[18]

Sir David was made a Knight Bachelor for services to industry, the arts and charity^[1][6][19] in the Queen's 2004 Birthday Honours.^[1][20][21]

In 2007, Sir David was awarded an honorary degree from City University London.^[22]