David Rhodes blends the talents of an outstanding engineer with the achievements of a highly successful entrepreneur and businessman.

David graduated from Leeds in 1964 and was awarded his PhD in 1966. He had a short but distinguished period in the United States which established his reputation in microwave engineering, returning to Leeds in 1969 as a Lecturer in Electrical Engineering. He was promoted rapidly: to a Readership in 1972 at the age of 28, and a Personal Chair in 1975.

In 1977, David founded Filtronic Components Ltd, building on his own research. After two years working from his own home, he moved into dedicated premises and hired his first engineers – Leeds graduates of course! After moving to a part-time role in the University, Filtronic started to grow quickly. The advent of mobile communications presented new opportunities and Filtronic Comtek was founded in 1992; it was successfully floated in 1994. International growth followed and in 1998 Filtronic acquired a number of companies, including a compound semiconductor capability. Today, Filtronic plc embraces wireless telecommunications, and defence businesses, employing over 3500 staff worldwide in 17 facilities. In 2003, the company made over 400,000 base station units and over 120 million handset antennae. It is the UK’s most successful university spin-out company.

David remains a powerhouse of technical innovation, driving the development of new products based on highly innovative engineering solutions. His interest in the fundamentals of engineering, especially mathematics, remains his passion, and aside from his stalwart support for Bradford City Football Club, occupies whatever spare time is available to him. He has led a long campaign to support mathematics teaching in schools and engineering in universities. His world-leading excellence in his field continues to be widely recognised with the award of the most distinguished prizes from learned societies including the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society and the IEEE. David was awarded the OBE in 1992 and the CBE in 2002; he was elected to the Royal Society in 1993.