David Joseph

David Joseph CBE is Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).

David is one of the UK’s most widely respected creative industries and media executives.

Prior to the RSA, he led Universal Music UK as Chairman and CEO for 17 years, overseeing a period of extraordinary transformation and commercial success – evolving the company into a global exporter of British creativity at its best, working with some of the world’s most loved artists. As well as chairing several critically acclaimed BRIT Award shows, David was also an executive producer of the 2015 Oscar and BAFTA-winning documentary, Amy.

David has consistently used his platform to drive change. In 2019, he pioneered Universal Music’s Creative Differences initiative: the first industry handbook for embracing neurodiversity in the workplace, which has reached more than 200 organisations across the globe. David was a founding board member of Julie’s Bicycle, helping to lead the cultural sector’s response to the climate crisis, and served on the National Council of Arts Council England for eight years. In 2013, he worked with Baroness Doreen Lawrence to drive music industry support for Unity, marking the 20th anniversary of Stephen Lawrence’s murder. As Chair of the Grenfell Foundation, David pushes for justice and policy reform, focusing on community advocacy.

He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to the music industry.

For all media enquiries, please contact:

Ben Oliver
Head of News and Public Affairs
ben.oliver@rsa.org.uk