David Ross (Conservative Party donor)

David Ross is the founder with his schoolfriend Charles Dunstone of Carphone Warehouse.

Ross is a financial donor to the Conservative Party.

Education reformer

The David Ross Foundation, which Ross chairs, is a sponsor of a chain of academy schools (independently-run, but state-funded schools). The David Ross Education Trust runs 33 academies across the East Midlands, East of England and Yorkshire & Humberside (over 20 of which are primary schools).

Conservative Party donor

Ross became a member under David Cameron of The Leader's Group, the premier Conservative Party supporter group. Through an annual membership fee of £50,000 donors are able to secure access to leading members of the party through the group. Ross is reportedly friends with David Cameron and has been dubbed part of the 'Chipping Norton set', refering to the area near to the former prime minister's home.

Business interests

Ross co-founded the mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse in 1989 with his school friend Charles Dunstone. In 2003 the firm launched the Talk Talk brand; and in 2014 it merged with the electrical retailer Dixons to create Dixons Carphone, which also operates under the Currys and PC World brands.

Ross resigned from Carphone Warehouse and a number of other businesses in 2008 after using a large proportion of his shares in the businesses as collateral for personal loans without informing the companies, which is a breach of stock market rules.