Biography

David Worsfold is best known for his work as a financial journalist, in particular as a writer on the insurance industry and financial services which he has covered for 40 years.

Since 2013, David has run his own company – Worsfold Media Services – offering a wide range of editorial, content marketing and event presentation services as well as delivering an extensive programme of training courses covering editorial disciplines and presentation skills.

He has edited several leading insurance titles, including Post, Insurance Age and Reinsurance. David wrote for The Guardian for several years and has contributed to various national newspapers. He has appeared on radio and television as a commentator on insurance issues and is an experienced conference speaker and facilitator.

David was Group Editorial Services Director at Incisive Media from 2005 to 2013 and had responsibility for a wide range of editorial and production functions, including editorial standards and strategy, recruitment, training – including the company’s successful graduate recruitment programme – and the delivery of design and production services. This included managing editorial and production teams in London, New York and Hong Kong as well Incisive’s TV studios in London.

Among his many achievements, David launched the British Insurance Awards in 1995 – the most successful B2B awards scheme in the UK. In 1990 he established the All Party Parliamentary Group on Insurance & Financial Services which has played an influential role in improving communication between the insurance and retail financial services sector and Parliament for over thirty years.

He served as a trustee of The Insurance Charities for many years and when he was president he merged all the underlying legacy charities into a single, more focused organisation. From 2003 to 2013 he led a highly successful fundraising programme at Brentwood Cathedral which raised £500,000 to restore a historic listed church as a thriving parish hall. Between 2013 and 2022 he was a trustee of the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society and chaired its Marketing & Fundraising Committee.

At Incisive Media he led the Incisive Media Foundation from its inception in 2010, building it up so that by the time he left in 2013 it was on course to deliver £250,000 a year to its partner charities.

His first book, Fighting for the Empire, was published in September 2016 and his second historical book on Operation Aerial was published in June 2022, with a paperback edition following in September 2023.

He has also written two books for Business Expert Press: Twitter for Financial Services (2017) and From Behind the Desk to the Front of the Stage: How to Enhance Your Presentation Skills (2018).

Award winning journalist 

Winner of Business & Finance Writer at the 2021 Freelance Writing Awards. Five times a winner of awards at the BIBA Insurance Journalist of the Year Awards, most recently in 2015. Winner of Best General Insurance Journalist at the 1999 Financial Services Media Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. Won the inaugural Chief Executive’s Award for Outstanding Achievement at the 2007 Incisive Media Awards.

Other notable achievements

• Treasurer of the Association of European Journalists – UK Section 2019-present
• President of the Presse Internationale des Assurances 2000-02
• President of the Insurance Charities 2003-04 and Chair of its Marketing and Fundraising Committee 2004-13
• Chair of the Incisive Media Foundation from its launch in 2010 to 2013
• Councillor for Shenfield on Brentwood Borough Council 2023-present
• Councillor in the London Borough of Waltham Forest 1988 to 1994
• Served on the Waltham Forest Arts Council, London Arts Board and the board of the Theatre Royal Stratford East
• Founded Brentwood Town Ladies Football Club in 1999, UEFA qualified coach
• Trustee of the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society 2013-22 and chair of its Marketing & Fundraising Committee
• Chair of the Brentwood Choirs Festival 2010-20
• Member of the Brentwood Arts Council executive committee

Interests

• Sings with choirs at Brentwood Cathedral and with Brentwood and Ingatestone Choral Society
• Leyton Orient season ticket holder
• Member of Essex County Cricket Club
• Freeman of the City of London and member of the Worshipful Company of Insurers
• Member of the City Livery Club and Little Ship Club

David also helped start girls football at the Brentwood Ursuline Convent School in the mid-1990s which grew into Brentwood Town Ladies. He was a qualified FA/UEFA coach.

In 2022, David was heavily involved in helping Ukrainian refugees settle in Brentwood, and for six months had a mother and her nine year old daughter living with him and his wife.

He has also played football at Wembley, been hit for 6 by Graham Gooch and Allan Border, and sung in choirs in front of 60,000 people for the Papal visit in 2010.

• Member of the Society of Authors

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What others say about David Worsfold

“David was an exceptional talent at Incisive Media. He had a very thorough understanding of the publishing industry and he was always a joy to work with. I am also aware that he was held in high esteem within Incisive Media”. – Anthony Misquitta, former Partner, Farrer & Co

“David has a deep knowledge of the insurance industry, an understanding of politics and the media, and a grasp of the current and future issues which will shape the industry in the years to come.” – Nick Starling, former Director of General Insurance and Health, Association of British Insurers

Contact David Worsfold: david@worsfoldmedia.com or 07885 348982 or 01277 221445