David Daoud
Principal Analyst / PresidentAbout David
David Daoud is a seasoned analyst and strategic advisor with nearly three decades of experience at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and enterprise governance. He is the Founder and President of Compliance Standards LLC, where he leads advisory and research work focused on circular IT strategies, the IT asset disposition (ITAD) sector, sustainable tech, ISMS, compliance and adjacent areas such as ESG compliance, vendor risk, and sustainable infrastructure.
David began his research career in 1996, specializing in mainstream IT hardware markets, and by 2003, had become the first analyst to systematically study the emerging challenges and opportunities in IT hardware disposition. While at IDC, he launched the GRADE Certification program — a vendor evaluation framework mentioned by companies like Dell, HP, IBM Global Asset Recovery Services and Unisys — and has since remained a trusted industry voice for clients seeking to understand the evolving lifecycle of enterprise IT assets.
Today, David provides strategic foresight and hands-on consulting to companies operating across multiple technology sectors.
His areas of expertise include:
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Market and regulatory analysis for ITADs, OEMs, and data center operators
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Strategic planning around sustainability, innovation, and risk mitigation
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Enterprise procurement advisory with a focus on ISMS compliance, cybersecurity, and ESG-aligned vendor audits
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AI’s emerging role in traceability, refurbishment, decommissioning, and responsible IT management
As an independent advisor, David is frequently called on to brief and consult with clients across Silicon Valley, New York, Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan Singapore, North America and elsewhere. He works closely with both operational leaders and investment teams to help anticipate market shifts, align roadmaps with geopolitical and sustainability risks, and build future-proof frameworks for growth and compliance.
David is also a contributor to industry publications including Resource Recycling and E-Scrap News, where he explores the intersection of circularity, regulation, and innovation in IT.
He is currently authoring a new book titled Sustainable IT in the Age of AI: How Companies Can Lead on Responsible IT Use, to be published by De Gruyter in 2026. The book will address how artificial intelligence is reshaping every stage of the IT lifecycle — from procurement and optimization to decommissioning and ESG reporting — and will feature case studies from across the IT, ITAM and ITAD ecosystems.
Prior to founding Compliance Standards, David worked as a Research Analyst for IDG/Computerworld, a Data Analyst at Harvard University, and taught computer science and English as an Adjunct Faculty member in Massachusetts.
He studied economics at Algiers University and Suffolk University in Boston, and is certified in ESG Investing from the Wharton School of Business.
Connect with David:
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📞 +1 754-229-0095
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💬 WhatsApp: +1 508-981-6937
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- Competitive Analysis 100%
- User adoption strategies and practices 100%
- Market economics 100%
- Compliance requirements 100%
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Some of David's Recent Work
Advisory Note: Tariffs, Supply Security, and Enterprise Caution Set the Operating Context for ITAD and Secondary Materials Recovery in 2026
Recent policy signals from the U.S. administration indicate a period of heightened tension, driven by trade uncertainty, industrial policy intervention, and geopolitical leverage affecting technology, materials, and cross-border supply chains. This posture has become...
The Sage Client Survey: Secondary Market Dynamics and ITAM Strategy Shifts: 2026 Outlook
Sage Sustainable Electronics' 2026 benchmarking report reveals a secondary IT market in transition, driven by artificial intelligence infrastructure demand and constrained semiconductor supply chains. Server resale values have reached historic highs—approximately 2.5...
Takeways: Mitsubishi Materials investment in Elemental’s US e-scrap platform
Recent announcements indicate that Mitsubishi Materials has agreed to acquire a significant minority stake in Elemental Group’s US e-waste platform, which operates through Colt Recycling. The transaction reflects a broader trend in which large metals and materials groups are seeking closer integration with upstream electronics recycling and pre-processing operations as part of their circular-economy strategies. A more detailed assessment of the strategic implications, execution risks, and what this transaction signals for the evolving relationship between IT asset disposition and metals recovery is available to subscribers.
Part 1: 2025 in Retrospect: Redefined ‘Serious’ ITAD
2025 marked a transition point for IT Asset Disposition and electronics recycling. Multiple forces that had been building over several years converged within a single operating cycle, changing not only volumes and asset flows, but the fundamental expectations placed on ITAD providers.
