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
Compliance: What Recent BAN and EPA Actions Reveal About Systemic Compliance Weaknesses
Recent findings from BAN and an EPA settlement with Apple reveal parallel weaknesses in downstream e-waste controls and upstream hazardous waste management. The analysis shows that compliance gaps are emerging across multiple points of the electronics lifecycle, indicating the need for stronger governance and verifiable operational systems.
Quarterly Results Map Out Inflection Points in IT Asset Lifecycle and Infrastructure
The third-quarter earnings reports from hardware, cloud, and lifecycle companies confirm that the decommissioning industry (decom) is expanding from hardware collection and recovery to the platforming of value creation through integration, compliance, and automation....
Iron Mountain’s Strong Q3 Performance Confirms ITAD’s Shift Toward Integrated Data and Lifecycle Governance
Iron Mountain’s third quarter results highlight how the ITAD sector is evolving into a full infrastructure and lifecycle services ecosystem. The company’s shift toward data centers, digital workflow, and asset lifecycle management reflects a broader move by enterprise clients toward integrated, compliance-driven lifecycle control rather than transactional recycling.
SK tes: Pathway to Hyperscale Decommissioning Through SK Group’s NVIDIA Partnership
The SK tes opportunity now extends well beyond traditional IT asset disposition. With SK Group’s new partnership to build a national-scale AI factory alongside NVIDIA, SK tes is strategically positioned to gain direct exposure to hyperscale data center decommissioning...
