David Furnish is Chief Executive Officer of Rocket Entertainment and Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Since taking the helm at Rocket in 2015, he has transformed the business into a global entertainment powerhouse while managing Elton John’s career. As Creative Director, he conceived the record-breaking Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour which reached 6.25 million fans across 330 shows worldwide. As a producer, he brought Elton’s acclaimed biopic Rocketman to the screen, which went on to win an Oscar, two Golden Globes and a Critics Choice Award. His theatrical credits include Billy Elliot the Musical, and The Devil Wears Prada, the fastest-selling production in the Dominion Theatre’s history. David oversaw the success of Elton’s greatest-hits album Diamonds and bestselling autobiography Me. In 2022 his achievements in management were recognised with Music Week’s Manager of the Year award. As Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, he is a tireless campaigner and a leading voice in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The Foundation has raised more than $600 million for HIV/AIDS grants worldwide. In 2025, Royal Holloway, University of London, awarded him an honorary Doctor of Literature degree in recognition of his advocacy and commitment to LGBTQ+ equality.
