CONSULTANCY

About us

David Butler

Founder + Senior Consultant

David Butler’s 35+ years of experience in learning and consulting spans a number of senior positions in business schools ,12 years of corporate experience at Thales (a major Defense-Aerospace player with 80k employees in 60+ countries) and a number of Adjunct Faculty roles in business schools and universities (HEC Paris, l’ESCP Europe, ENSAM, Universiity of Paris Dauphine…).

Until very recently, he was the Practice Director of Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion at the Thales’ Corporate University, in charge of designing and delivering Thales’ leadership programs worldwide. He has been instrumental in bringing Design Thinking, Diversity and Inclusion and Digital Transformation to Thales.

At the Rouen Business School (now called NEOMA), he was Associate Dean of Post-graduate Programs and Executive Education and International Director (mananging 150+ academic partnerships around the world). He created Rouen’s Executive Education Center in Paris. David is very international in outlook. As a dual American and French citizen, he has visited over 100 countries.

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Areas of expertise

He specialises in designing, delivering and monitoring highly interactive learning solutions (Senior Leadership Programs, Management for New Managers, Team Management, Diversity and Inclusion, Intercultural Management, Intercultural Negotiation, Design Thinking, Influencing Strategies).

He is a world expert in designing and facilitating Strategic Learning Expeditions (100+ since the 80’s). He is both a keynote speaker and facilitates EXCOM-level seminars. He has also designed and served as an observer on a wide number of senior-level Development Centers. He has also been certified to facilitate and customize world-class CELEMI business simulations.

Our Clients and Partners

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thales-alenia-space-thales-group
safran
thales
limagrain
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merit
naval-group
people-smart
renault
just-different
hec-paris
Syngenta
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TESTIMONIALS

What our clients say
Hervé Multon, former EVP, Group Strategy Thales

I have been for many years a fanatic follower of David – and his inseparable twin-brother Jean-François – in their passion for opening the eyes, the minds and the souls of all promising Thales talents poised to access executive leadership positions. I first met David in a session when I joined Thales, then sponsored and accompanied many of his learning expeditions throughout the world in my position as EVP, Group Strategy, and we eventually cooperated very closely in creating new sessions dedicated to European countries. And how blessed are those who will feel sparkles and get true inspiration through your passionate flame for the future! 

Damien ROGER, VP Logistic Operations OEMServices

David’s work is far from any intervention you can expect to attend. He avoided all “clichés” about intercultural environment allowing us to realize that concept is far beyond what we thought.

Jean François Dimeglio, President Asia Centre

David Butler has a very sharp and personal approach to the various aspects involved in executive programs. His multicultural background and his extensive travelling experience enable him to be very creative in designing programs, adjusting for tailor-made definitions of itineraries, insightful interviews and encounters with executives from various geographical origins when it comes to “learning expeditions”. I had been exposed to his method while designing such programs with him in Asia and I had been impressed by the ingenuity and professionalism he displayed both in the preparation sequence and in the follow-up sessions which are the real value-adding parts of executive programs.

Jean-François Pernotte V.P. Corporate strategy, development and major partnerships (ret.), Thales President, Montera Conseil

For more than ten years, as corporate strategist for Thales and then senior consultant, I had the privilege to share with David Butler the design and implementation of Thales in-house offerings for the development and advanced training of senior managers and executives of the group. Thanks to David’s creativity and empathy, these programs have become a landmark in Thales culture. Engineered by David, this unique combination of innovative thinking, bold field visits, intense work pressure and unusual cultural insights produced shared adventure memories and deep relationships participants never forgot in their later building-up of leadership excellence.

Marko Erman, Chief Scientific Officer, Thales

“I had the chance to do several Learning Expeditions prepared by David. Their objective was simple: to understand and immerse oneself in a limited time with the world’s best innovation ecosystems, from the USA to China. Simple to say, but not easy to organize! But thanks to David’s multiple talents, it was each time a successful, unique and unforgettable experience. The relevance of the sites, companies and institutions we visited, the quality of the people we were able to meet, were each time an eye-opener. I simply loved it!! ”

Financial Controller, Thales Turkey

Your intervention has been completely taken under advisement by Christophe and Merit Team! You’ve set us the new task of reassessing, measuring, honing, adapting. Great insights and very useful as we contine with Merit. Cannot thank you enough for your inparted knowledge and perspectives. (And creativity!). We will assuredly call upon you for further input once actions are decided.