Sir Richard Branson

Biography

Sir Richard Branson is the founder and president of Virgin Group. Virgin is one of the world`s most recognized and respected brands and has expanded into air and rail travel, hospitality and leisure, telecommunications, financial services, health and wellness, media, and clean energy through more than 300 companies in 30 countries. At 20, Richard founded Virgin as a mail order record retailer, expanding it into a record shop and recording studio. Virgin Music became one of the top six record companies in the world. A leader in product innovation and customer service, the Virgin family of airlines includes Virgin America, voted the US` best domestic airline by Travel+Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler, and Virgin Atlantic, VAustralia and Virgin Blue.

In 1999 Richard was knighted for "services to entrepreneurship."

Richard has been involved in a number of world record-breaking attempts since 1985. In 1986 his boat, "Virgin Atlantic Challenger II," crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the fastest ever recorded time. This was followed a year later by a hot air balloon crossing of the same ocean in "Virgin Atlantic Flyer."

In 2004, Richard launched Virgin Unite to pull together all the resources of the Virgin Group internationally and, most importantly, Virgin`s best asset - its people - to tackle tough challenges facing the world. Richard pledged 100% of profits of Virgin transportation companies to clean tech investments, and he launched the Carbon War Room to mobilize capital, innovation, expertise and entrepreneurs to advance climate change efforts.

Richard is the author of Losing My Virginity: How I`ve Survived, Had Fun and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way, (Crown Business, 1998) Screw It, Let`s Do It: Lessons in Life (Virgin Books, 2006), and Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur (Virgin Books, 2008).

Publications

Business Stripped Bare:
Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur

Combining invaluable advice with the remarkable and candid inside stories of Virgin`s greatest achievements, as well as some of its setbacks, Business Stripped Bare is a dynamic, inspirational and truly original guide to success in business and in life. This book is aimed far and wide and whether you are an executive, an entrepreneur or are just starting out, Richard strips business down to show how you can succeed and make a difference This entertaining read will be an invaluable business guide for years to come.