David A. Pritchard

Athlete, Business leader, Business mentor, Change agent, Concerned citizen, Connector, Explorer, Gay, Global soul, Investor, Startup, World traveler

David Pritchard is the Senior Advisor to the CEO at Helion Energy and a Microsoft veteran with a diverse career spanning operations, HR, and research and product development. At Helion, David advises the executive leadership team in efforts to successfully build and deploy clean and safe fusion technology around the world. During his more than 40-year tenure at Microsoft, David held a wide range of positions across operations, human resources, and research and product development disciplines. During that time, David applied early business, technical, and organizational learnings to various challenges, including spearheading Microsoft's quantum computing effort. David’s extensive career includes a twelve-year tenure as Chief of Staff for Microsoft’s Chief Research and Strategy Officer, where he played a pivotal role in orchestrating advanced strategies, fostering new business startups, and leading groundbreaking initiatives, including Microsoft’s ambitious long-term quantum computing effort. This endeavor demanded David's expertise in developing and managing complex business frameworks, international talent, and state-of-the-art facilities. Transitioning to work directly with the Chief Research Officer, David further solidified his reputation as a leader in innovation. He contributed significantly to cutting-edge projects in various areas, notably Artificial Intelligence, particularly in Cognitive Services such as vision, speech, language, and decision-making, as well as Azure cloud applications. Known for his adeptness in handling confidential matters, David has often been the trusted advisor acting as a “consigliore,” wielding the authority to act on executives' behalf. His roles have ranged from setting up specific task teams and ensuring their successful completion to driving initiatives from strategy to execution. David's portfolio includes navigating complex opportunities with governments and partners aligned in achieving significant long-term technical or business goals, such as establishing technology policies, regulatory frameworks, or joint R&D programs. Beyond his corporate endeavors, David's skills extend to providing crucial support to startups and established companies alike, guiding them through the intricate process of moving from strategy to action. A Seattle native, David enjoys global travel and experiencing diverse cultures. He is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound and has attended the University of Michigan Ross School of Business – Human Resources Executive Program in Strategic Human Resources Management.

about life and doing good things with it.

Business Development, Geek, International Business

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