David Cochrane MBE

David is the Chief Executive of Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland (HIT).

After commencing his career at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, David started working for Norfolk Capital Hotels. He then joined Gardner Merchant (now Sodexo) as a chef manager, progressing to District Training Coordinator.

This Training experience led him into the Hotel and Training Company, working with Youth Training and unemployment projects.

He also undertook a Leonardo da Vinci European project to help implement vocational qualifications in Scottish prisons. He became the Training Manager at Gleneagles Hotel where he developed his passion for people development and this led him, naturally, to take on the role of CEO of HIT Scotland.

In 2004, David was awarded the Industry Award for services to the hospitality industry in Scotland and, in 2012 and, in 2012, an honorary degree in International Hospitality Management from Higher Institute of Education – Glion and he was also honoured that year with the Education and Training “Catey” award.

He is an active member of many industry forums, including the Scottish Government’s Tourism Skills Group, and is a fellow of the Institute of Hospitality and of Strathclyde Business School. He is also a Trustee of Dynamic Earth (due to end in 2022) and of Cambo Country House and Estate.

David was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2020 for services to hospitality and tourism.