David Arkless

David Arkless
FRSA
Arkless at the World Economic Forum (2009)
BornFebruary 1954 (age 72)
EducationDurham University (BA)
INSEAD
OccupationsBusiness executive and consultant

David Edwin Wilson Arkless (born February 1954) is a British businessman. He was president of Corporate and Government Affairs at ManpowerGroup and later president, International, of CDI Corporation.

Since 2013 he has served as chairman of ArkLight Consulting.

Early life and education

Arkless grew up on a council estate near Durham and was an active rugby player in his youth.

He studied General Arts at Durham University, graduating in 1976. He has subsequently completed executive programs at INSEAD, IMD and the College of Business at San Jose State University.

Career

Arkless worked for Hewlett-Packard in the human resources department and later founded the business consultancy Caden Corporation, which was immediately successful.

He joined staffing firm Manpower in 1993 when they bought his company. His first role was to "coordinate" Europe, which meant ensuring 42 independently run country organisations worked together smoothly. In December 2008, he was appointed president of Corporate and Government Affairs, having previously served as senior vice-president of Global Corporate Affairs. His work focused particularly on international labour markets, and he advised governments including those of China, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.

Arkless represented ManpowerGroup on the board of the International Confederation of Private Employment Agencies (CIETT) from 2007 and was elected its vice-president in 2011 for a three-year term. He also served on advisory bodies associated with the International Organization for Migration and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and was a core adviser to the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT).

After leaving ManpowerGroup, Arkless founded ArkLight Consulting. In October 2014, he joined CDI Corporation as executive vice-president and president, International.

Arkless has also been involved in initiatives against human trafficking. He served as president of End Human Trafficking Now and was a founding counsellor and co-chair of the Global Business Coalition Against Trafficking. In 2014, he gave evidence to the parliamentary joint committee scrutinising the Draft Modern Slavery Bill.

Personal life

Arkless is an honorary professor at Durham University and a board member of Durham University Business School. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of the Travellers Club.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Curriculum Vitae: David Arkless" (PDF). Eurasia Heart Foundation. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Milne, Janine (11 January 2012). "Talent Spot: David Arkless, president of End Human Trafficking Now!". HRZone. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "Final Examination for the Degree of B.A. in General Studies". University of Durham Gazette. XXII: 35. 31 January 1977. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Leadership Summit Asia 2010". INSEAD. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "David Arkless". Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "David Arkless". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "ManpowerGroup President of Corporate and Government Affairs, David Arkless, Named as Vice President of Ciett". PR Newswire. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Employment Agreement between CDI Corporation and David Arkless". Justia. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Draft Modern Slavery Bill: Witnesses". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2026.