David Pates

Ford Escort Mk3

Top Gun

Start with Why

Light aircraft, track cars

Darren Cairns

First car:

Favourite movie:

Recommended book:

Hobby:

Best boss:

Engagement Model Offered

Day Rate; Technical / Advisory

Suited to Organisational Types

Scale-ups; SME

David is an engineering and business leader with over 35 years of experience across automotive, engineering consultancy and high-performance technology, including Cosworth, MAHLE, Saietta and Hofer Powertrain.

He specialises in commercial turnaround, operational efficiency and business growth, helping organisations sharpen their strategy, streamline processes and build teams that can perform at scale. His approach combines strong commercial awareness with a focus on empowering people and creating a positive, accountable team culture.

David’s Arena

• Automotive, Engineering & Business Transformation.

• Technical Focus: Operational Efficiency, Business Strategy, Commercial Control.

• Function Expertise: Leadership, Business Development, Organisational Culture, Commercial Turnaround.

Superpowers

• Turns underperforming businesses into commercially successful operations.

• Identifies individual strengths and empowers people to take ownership.

• Builds strong team cultures that bring people and departments together.

• Simplifies processes to improve efficiency and business performance.

Impact in Action

• Defined a new strategic direction for MAHLE Powertrain by bringing departments and employees together.

• Grew a startup from 20 to 70 employees in one year and established a new technical centre in Silverstone.

• Delivered a commercial turnaround from £800k to £6m revenue in 12 months.

Working style

• Collaborative, open and honest.

• Empowers teams through trust and ownership.

• Commercially focused and pragmatic.

• Builds alignment across people, departments and leadership.