14 and a half hours with Richard
- Dec 02, 2008
Ever wondered what it's like to spend a day in the company of Virgin Group Chairman Richard Branson? Well - I'm Chris Baines and I'm the PR guy at Virgin Mobile in Toronto, Canada. Richard recently came to Toronto to promote his new book Business Stripped Bare and it was my job to accompany him on his big media day. Here's what happened...
5.45 am
Alarm on my (Virgin Mobile) BlackBerry goes off. My BlackBerry is flashing with 5 unread emails all from overnight and all from my boss Nathan Rosenberg (Chief Marketing Officer, Virgin Mobile Canada) about today (he once told me can survive on 4 hours sleep... he's a machine I've decided).
6:15 am
Arrive at office. Nathan has already called me twice to check I haven't overslept, that I am ready to meet Richard at his hotel at 7:30 am and that he will meet up with me at 9.30am as he has to check on the set-up for tonight's Gala.
6:30 am
Receive news that I am now meeting Richard at 7:45 am to find out about today's itinerary.
6:45 am
I do a quick search of the news sites to check nothing has cropped up over night. I spill my coffee.
7:15am
Jump in cab. Andrew Bridge (Brand Director Virgin Mobile Canada) calls me. Both him and Andrew Black (CEO & President for Virgin Mobile Canada) are already sitting in the hotel restaurant with Richard – so much for having a lie-in. I should have guessed Richard was one step ahead.
7:40am
Arrive at Richard's hotel. Andrew Bridge and Andrew Black are enjoying their breakfast meeting with Richard. As per usual Richard is energetic and ready for the day - even though his schedule is yet again packed out for the next 14 hours.
7:45am
Richard has two TV interviews to do in next 60 mins. Topics are tonight's Virgin Unite fundraising gala with Natala Imbruglia, Canadian music artist Feist and US comedian Kathy Griffin; plus the launch of Richard's new book Business Stripped Bare. Richard is ready to go.
8:00am
We depart for the first live TV interview (Canada AM – a bit like GMTV). Traffic is light today so we arrive early. Richard is on his mobile.
8:25am
We head into the TV studios - well it's more of a rabbit's warren and we end up in small office. Richard goes live at 8:40am. Richard asks me if I have read his book – thankfully I finished it the other night – phew!
8:40 am
Richard goes live on Canada AM and also announces that he's due to begin his record breaking sailing attempt tomorrow morning from New York.
8:49 am
Richard's interview finishes. We now have to peg it to the next live TV interview which is outdoors in 5 mins. With seconds to go before they go live at 8:55 am we jump out of the car into the freezing Toronto weather (last week it was 20c... bummer... I decide not tell Richard this). Richard delivers another great interview. Passers-by ask him for photos. Still freezing, Richard smiles for the photos.
Check back tomorrow for the next installment in my 14 and a half hours with Richard Branson...
