David Williams is a principal in and serves as the leader of Policy, Government Relations and Corporate Citizenship for the global professional services firm Deloitte LLP. In this role, he is responsible for Deloitte’s policy, government and community activities, focused on using these key tools to augment and accelerate Deloitte’s business strategies and stakeholder engagement. He works collaboratively with clients to inform federal, state and local governments on issues, identifies new and developing policy topics and legislative issues, and unites internal stakeholders around a common agenda of collective impact that advances both the firm and society at large.
Prior to assuming his current role, David served as the Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP (Deloitte FAS), and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte Transactions and Business Analytics (DTBA), both US operating subsidiaries of Deloitte US. Deloitte FAS and DTBA are specialty-consulting businesses, providing advice and counsel to companies faced with opportunities for growth such as a merger or acquisition, or critical challenges such as fraud, litigation or restructuring. As CEO, David was responsible for positioning and enabling the business to deliver sustainable revenue and earnings growth and return to Deloitte’s partners. His leadership responsibilities extended to more than 2,000 professionals. During his six-year tenure, David led a strategic repositioning of the business in order to take advantage of unprecedented changes in the professional services marketplace and the business expanded its scope of services through both organic service development and four (4) acquisitions, almost doubled in size, and substantially increased its profit margins.
In addition to his leadership responsibilities, David has also served Deloitte clients as a practicing management consultant. He has nearly 30 years of experience providing consulting services in various industries on business and financial issues, including strategic planning and business transformation, new business development and pricing, manufacturing and service delivery, cost measurement and control, performance measurement and financial accounting and reporting. He has testified as an expert in litigation, arbitration, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution matters; served as an arbitrator/mediator; and consulted with management, executives and boards of directors. He has experience in the calculation of damages in commercial disputes involving breach of contract, financial and securities fraud, wrongful termination, adjustment of purchase price, regulatory non-compliance and other causes of action.
During his tenure with Deloitte, David has served in various leadership positions within Deloitte FAS and DTBA, including serving on each firm’s Board of Directors, leading both one of FAS’ major service lines and one of its major geographical practices. David has also served in leadership roles within Deloitte LLP, including serving on its Board of Directors (and chairing its executive evaluation committee), serving on its Executive Committee, and acting as Global Business Leader for one of its major service lines. Prior to Deloitte, David was a principal at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and its legacy firm Price Waterhouse LLP.
David speaks regularly with top tier media as well as at prominent industry conferences and universities. He frequently discusses global trends in mergers and acquisitions, the impact of regulatory changes and legislation on business, and how innovation and technology are changing today’s marketplace.
David earned his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and his master of business administration degree in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is an associate member of the American Bar Association. In addition, he serves on the Regional Advisory Board of Teach For America – New York, the My Brother’s Keeper (MBKA) Board and the Pro Bono Institute Board.
