David Sainsbury read History and Psychology at King’s College, Cambridge and received an M.B.A. from the Columbia Graduate School of Business in New York. He was Finance Director of J. Sainsbury plc from 1973 to 1990 and Chairman from 1992 to 1998.
David Sainsbury became Lord Sainsbury of Turville in October, 1997 and was appointed Minister of Science and Innovation from July 1998 until November 2006.
He is the founder of the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, Centre for Cities and the Institute for Government.
In 2007 he produced a review of the Government’s science and innovation policies, ‘The Race To The Top’ and in May 2013 published ‘Progressive Capitalism: How to Achieve Economic Growth, Liberty and Social Justice’. His book, Windows of Opportunity: How Nations Create Wealth was published in February 2020.
He was elected Chancellor of the University of Cambridge in October 2011.
