Holly Branson–eldest daughter of Sir Richard Branson, iconic Founder of Virgin Group–graduated with a medical degree from University College London and worked as a junior doctor at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Then one day, her father made her an offer she couldn’t refuse...to spearhead the ‘Business As A Force For Good’ approach from within the family business.
In 2008, Holly Branson accepted a role at the Virgin Group, a $24 bn dollar international investment group and one of the world’s most recognized and respected brands. The Virgin Group runs successful and innovative businesses in sectors ranging from mobile telephony, travel, financial services, leisure, music, holidays, health and wellness, and one day—space tourism. It employs 71,000 people around the world and operates in 35 countries.
After a year’s internship working across all the Virgin companies, Holly Branson joined the Senior team at Virgin Management. She now splits her time between being an active participant of the Virgin Group Senior team, where she works on specific projects and new business launches, and chairing Virgin Unite, Virgin’s non-profit foundation. She actively supports social enterprises and charitable work around the world: She is a trustee of Big Change, a charity that Holly Branson and her brother, Sam, set up with friends to improve the lives of young people in the UK. She is a Patron of Free the Children UK, Co-Chair of We Day UK, and a Patron and creator of Virgin Money Giving.
Like father–like daughter, Holly Branson inherited Sir Richard Branson’s sense of adventure. She has climbed Mont Blanc (to launch Big Change), attempted to break the mono hull sailing record across the Atlantic, kite surfed the English Channel, has completed several marathons and sprint triathlons, and has taught orphans in Nairobi. In December 2015, she and her husband, Freddie Andrews, became parents to twins.