David Murphy is a current board member and the former CEO of Better World Books, a global online bookstore that harnesses the power of capitalism to bring literacy and opportunity to people around the world. An award-winning social entrepreneurship venture, Better World Books benefits a number of literacy charities in the U.S. and abroad. Through the company’s triple-bottom line approach (social, environmental, economic), David is making a business case for social responsibility.
Prior to joining Better World Books, David worked for over twenty years in corporate finance, operations and mergers and acquisitions with firms such as International Paper Company, The First Boston Corporation, Hutchison SA (multi-billion-dollar French subsidiary of the Total Energy Group) and Transcend Services, Inc. He also started several companies and has served as CFO, COO and CEO for both privately held and publicly traded firms in the manufacturing, health care services and technology sectors. He received his undergraduate degree (B.A.; Economics; Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Notre Dame and his MBA from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College.
Evidencing a lifelong commitment to service that took root as a result of the example set by his parents, David has served on both corporate and non-profit boards. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy and Indaba Systems, LLC and is also an Advisory Board Member for Books For Africa, The Prison Book Program, and Globe Funder. Interested in encouraging more entrepreneurial solutions to global issues, he is very active in the Social Venture Business Plan Competition at the University of Notre Dame and in several other Social Enterprise Associations.
May 25, 2011 Business News Daily "'Benefit Corp' Status Incorporates Doing Good into Business Basics"
April 15, 2011 The New York Times "Ethical Business with a Better Bottom Line"
July 29, 2010 Cause Capitalism "How Better World Books Built A Multimillion-Dollar, Venture Backed Social Enterprise- with David Murphy"
Sept 10, 2009 Time Magazine recognizes Better World books as one of their "Responsibility Pioneers"
July 2, 2009 CNN "Building Better World a Book at a Time"
May 26, 2009 Fundraising Success Magazine "Better World Books Creates Unprecedented Financial Incentives for Nonprofit Literacy Partners"
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution "Up Close with David Murphy"
CNET News "Eco Amazon.com Rival Brings in Millions"