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IDC announces with great sadness the death of David Bradshaw, research manager for Cloud at our European Services research group in London, England. David died aged 63 on 11 August, surrounded by family and close friends, after a six-year recurring battle with cancer.
David will be remembered as a clever, funny, creative, hard-working and above all caring colleague. Although he was obviously weakened physically by his illness, to the end he was his usual self, cracking jokes, asking for gossip and incurably interested in the world around him.
David was selfless and caring for others, and he concealed his illness from his young son for several years to protect him from stress or worry. At work, he never made an issue of what was at times a tough and recurring battle against prostate cancer, and he was traveling in business right up to the point where doctors finally ordered him to leave work in late 2015. He would always reach out to help colleagues who needed assistance for whatever reason, and his self-depreciatory humor masked a great intellect and immense knowledge of his industry. He wanted the world to be a better place. He was a long-term member of the Labour Party and campaigned vigorously in the last general election as well as making his opinions felt through social media.
At IDC, David established himself as a world-class expert on cloud services, building on his work at his former employer, Ovum, and worked closely with colleagues across the globe, and not just with his close team in London. He was known for lateral thinking and creativity, and for a refreshing willingness to challenge accepted wisdom. He was at IDC for almost nine years, following a 16-year spell at Ovum, in London and for a time in Boston, where he was both a consultant and researcher in several fast-moving areas of IT: cloud, CRM and databases amongst others. He had also worked as a journalist, among other things editing Electronics Today International and writing for Which? Magazine.
David was highly educated – he had a BSc in Physics from Oxford, an MSc in Physics and Cryogenics from Southampton, and MBA from Cass Business School. Yet it was typical of David’s down-to-earth sense of fairness that he refused to automatically upgrade his Oxford degree to an MA, preferring instead to study for “real” master’s degree.
David leaves a wife Qing, and his son William, who turns 17 this week. He also leaves many friends and colleagues at IDC who will miss him, his insights and – not least – his infectious sense of humor.
Rest in peace, David.
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David was both an incredibly well-informed and articulate commentator who provided me with much assistance over the years, but also a splendid amusing companion on press trips and at industry events. He will be sorely missed by the tech industry and its journalist/analyst followers.
So sad to hear this news, a true gentleman and all round great man.
I remember Marc Benioff calling David up on the stage at the annual SFDC event in London around 11 years ago and applauding his foresight and coverage of the emerging SAAS market. David was on the cutting edge when these firms had 50 employees and where just a good idea, he followed them in detail and wrote great research on the coming digital evolution of business. The industry has just been left with a massive hole …
I could not agree more. Bright, clever, funny, caring and selfless are the first words that come to mind when I think about David whom I had the privilege to get to know at IDC and beyond. My deepest condolences to his family in this difficult time.
Many condolences to his family on the loss of kind, good humoured and intelligent man who bore his illness with great stoicism.
Real sad to hear about David demise. My condolence to his family members and may GOD give them courage to bear this unfortunate loss.
It is with great sadness to hear of David’s passing. David had all the characteristics mentioned by everyone and was always the first to bring a touch of humour to the office. He will be missed, but his memories will stimulate a smile
So said to hear the news. I enjoyed working with David at Ovum then he became a neighbour as we both lived in South London. I’d regularly bump into him and William at the yearly steam fun fair at our local park. The world was made brighter with David in it and his memory will live on through the many who were on the receiving end of his wit, intelligence and kindness.
Such sad news. Many years ago David’s work was focused on the CRM market and he and I worked together on accounts such as Siebel (back in the day) and I remember how he had the gift of explaining things in a way that was easy to understand and that really helped the sales team that I worked in at the time. You’ll be missed David.
Sad news. The picture at the top is exactly as I remember him. He was always cheery when I knew him at Ovum and it’s good to hear this remained his way all through his life.
I’m so sorry to hear of David’s passing. He was a great analyst, but more important, a lovely person. He’ll be missed. -Pam