A legendary leader

David Bobbett started his career at KPMG and today leads H&K International, a global leader in services to the restaurant and retail industry. In conversation with Tom Lyons, he reveals his remarkable career arc from office junior to business titan

David Bobbett, chief executive, H&K International Picture: Fergal Phillips

David Bobbett recalls the five years he spent with KPMG at the beginning of his career with much fondness. Despite failing five sets of accountancy exams, he credits the experience as giving him the grounding to lead H&K International. The global leader in providing integrated equipment and services to the restaurant and retail industry, H&K is quietly one of Ireland’s biggest enterprises with sales of $500 million a year.

Bobbett says he learned ...