David Beeby DL

David grew up on a mixed farm in Nottinghamshire, where his family have farmed for over 160 years.

The youngest of five, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. After moving into general management in the printing and packaging industries, he relocated to Cumbria in 1987 to run Smith Brothers (Whitehaven) Limited and later progressed into international roles within the owning group.

In 2004 he became CEO of Innovia Group in Wigton, overseeing major investments including a new plant to produce polymer banknote substrate for the Bank of England.

He retired in 2015, by which time the business had manufacturing sites in Wigton, Belgium, USA, Australia, and Mexico, with customers in over 100 countries. Following its sale to CCL Industries in 2017, David became Global Vice Chairman of CCL Secure, maintaining his involvement with the banknote substrate business.

Beyond business, David has held numerous charitable roles in Cumbria, including Chair of the Princes Trust, member of the Calvert Trust Management Committee, Chair of Trustees of Cumbria Community Foundation, Chair of the Employment Advisory Board at HMP Haverigg, and Chair of the Cumbria Economic Growth Board. He also chairs Cumbria CBI and serves as Chairman of Aqua Power Technologies, a Cumbrian wave power firm.

David is a past High Sheriff of Cumbria (2021–22).