Richard Branson
- Profession: Entrepreneur
- Place/Date of Birth: Shamley Green, Surrey, 18 July 2020
When two airlines go to war October 03 1999
It could be the final ignominy for British Airways and its embattled chief executive Bob Ayling. Upstart arch-rival Richard Branson has revived plans to take a stake in the national airline.
Celebs & Gossip
Actors & Performers
Anita Dobson
Dean Gaffney
Sylvie Guillem
Faces in Fashion
Sir Paul Smith
Valentino: Valentino Garavani
Musicians
Brain May, Queen
Brian May
Brian May
Writers & Artists
Lucian Freud
Michael Winner
News
Britain's Got Talent
Celebrity Big Brother
Births, marriages and deaths
Celebrity babies of 2007
Celebrity marriages of 2007
A sad farewell in 2007
Features
Celeb Rehab
Keeping up with the WAGs...
Anita Dobson
Dean Gaffney
Sylvie Guillem
Faces in Fashion
Sir Paul Smith
Valentino: Valentino Garavani
Musicians
Brain May, Queen
Brian May
Brian May
Writers & Artists
Lucian Freud
Michael Winner
News
Britain's Got Talent
Celebrity Big Brother
Births, marriages and deaths
Celebrity babies of 2007
Celebrity marriages of 2007
A sad farewell in 2007
Features
Celeb Rehab
Keeping up with the WAGs...
Book local Hotels
Local Jobs
Admin - Secretarial...: 289 Jobs
Cost Verification Officer...
General Administrator...
Office Administrator / Admin...
Part Time Legal Receptionist - 6...
Receptionist...
more jobs...
Customer Service - Call...: 357 Jobs
Credit Controller...
Mobile Customer Support Advisor...
Office Administrator / Admin...
Overnight Customer Service / Call...
Recruitment Coordinator / Account...
more jobs...
Graduate...: 1,129 Jobs
Desktop Support - Tooting...
Graduate Account Executive /...
Graduate Sales Executive, London,...
Mechanical Project Engineer...
more jobs...
Cost Verification Officer...
General Administrator...
Office Administrator / Admin...
Part Time Legal Receptionist - 6...
Receptionist...
more jobs...
Customer Service - Call...: 357 Jobs
Credit Controller...
Mobile Customer Support Advisor...
Office Administrator / Admin...
Overnight Customer Service / Call...
Recruitment Coordinator / Account...
more jobs...
Graduate...: 1,129 Jobs
Desktop Support - Tooting...
Graduate Account Executive /...
Graduate Sales Executive, London,...
Mechanical Project Engineer...
more jobs...
Marketing - Advertising...: 402 Jobs
Business Analyst - London - Apply...
Communications and Marketing...
CORPORATE GIFT / SALES / DESIGN...
Product / Marketing Manager - Europe...
Senior Account Manager - Fundraising...
more jobs...
Media - New Media...: 80 Jobs
Design Coordinator - Project Manager...
Director of Business Development...
Media Planner/Buyer...
Oracle P2P Specialist - London -...
Senior Test Engineer -...
more jobs...
Retail - Wholesale...: 97 Jobs
Account Manager...
"Account Manager/Executive"...
Commercial Manager...
Project Manager...
Retail Assistant Store Manager -...
more jobs...
Business Analyst - London - Apply...
Communications and Marketing...
CORPORATE GIFT / SALES / DESIGN...
Product / Marketing Manager - Europe...
Senior Account Manager - Fundraising...
more jobs...
Media - New Media...: 80 Jobs
Design Coordinator - Project Manager...
Director of Business Development...
Media Planner/Buyer...
Oracle P2P Specialist - London -...
Senior Test Engineer -...
more jobs...
Retail - Wholesale...: 97 Jobs
Account Manager...
"Account Manager/Executive"...
Commercial Manager...
Project Manager...
Retail Assistant Store Manager -...
more jobs...
At sixteen, while most of his classmaes were planning their university careers, Richard left education and headed for London where he set up the successful Student magazine. Just a couple of years later he began to sell discounted records through mail order, drastically undercutting high street retailers. Eventually he set up a a store on London’s Oxford Street named after his company - Virgin. The success of this new store was soon followed by a record label to which Mike Oldfield was signed, releasing Tubular Bells (which was recorded at Branson’s country estate) in 1973 to chart success. Virgin was not a consistent success and Richard soon found himself in trouble with the taxman over the sale of export stock - his mother remortgaged her home to pay the bill which kept her son out of jail.
Despite this hiccup, the entreperneur found great success throughout the 80s, signing acts such as The Sex Pistols, Culture Club and Can to his label and purchasing gay nightclub Heaven. Meanwhile in 1984 Virgin Atlantic Airlines was formed, cementing Branson’s status as one of Britain’s biggest businessmen. Since the 80s several other Virgin companies have been launched, selling everything from cola to cosmetics, via mobile phonelines and trainlines. Meanwhile Richard’s adventurous streak has kept the public interested in the man himself. In 1986 his boat, Virgin Atlantic Challenger II broke the record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic, followed closely by an attempt at the same journey by hot air balloon - another record made. He has also attempted to become the first person to circumnavigate the globe by balloon, but was beaten to it in 1999.
The Virgin brand has made further leaps in business and travel since 2000, not only has a short haul airline been purchased but Virgin Galactic plans to corner the space tourism market. Meanwhile Branson has purchased NTL, started working towards Virgin Fuel, and launched stem cell company Virgin Health Bank. And it’s not all for profit - The Sunday Times Rich List’s number 9 has also pledged to invest the profits of his train and plane companies in research on environmental fuels.
Married to Joan Templeman since 1989, Branson has two children, Sam and Holly. He lives in Oxford and London.
September 2007