Richard Branson is an entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin Group, one of the world’s most recognized and respected brands. Opening its doors as a mail order record retailer and shortly thereafter becoming a record shop and recording studio, the Virgin Group has expanded into air travel, mobile, financial services, rail, health & wellness, radio, hotels and resorts, space travel, and renewable energy, with investments in more than 200 companies worldwide.

Branson has been involved in a number of world record-breaking attempts, such as crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the fastest ever recorded time and traveling in a hot air balloon, as well as planning to open the world’s first commercial Space Tourism business, the Virgin Galactic.

He is also putting significant focus into Virgin Unite, the independent arm of the Virgin Group that focuses on entrepreneurial approaches to social and environmental issues, supporting various initiatives ranging from the creation of sustainable health clinics in Africa to the fostering of new entrepreneurs through the Branson School of Entrepreneurship in South Africa.

He joined the Global Commission on Drug Policy in 2011.