Having worked at the
Oxford Mail (1970–1972), Bell became a news editor at the
Financial Times in 1978. He rose to Managing Editor (1985–1989) before moving to the business side, initially as marketing director (1989–1993). As Chairman of the UK's Millennium Bridge Trust (1995 to 2002) David Bell signed off London's
Millennium Bridge, In 2005, he co-founded with a temporary suspension/resignation for his involvement in the
Leveson Inquiry), which helped administer the
Orwell Prize. He was an assessor on the
Leveson Inquiry from 2011 to 2012. In November 2012 he became chair of the syndicate of
Cambridge University Press. ==Other positions==