Richard Branson- My Brand Champion

I am often asked who I think are the greatest examples of brand champions, and who has been an influence on my work. In the past I have written about Donald Trump, David Beckham, Fidel Castro and many of you. But, I think the person that best exemplifies what it means to be a brand champion is Richard Branson.

Think about all of the brand extensions of The Virgin Group. No matter how far the brand stretches, it seems to reflect the essence of irreverence, maverick, rebel and other associations that we make with Richard Branson. Not to mention, social responsibility advocate and 2007 UN Citizen of the Year. As we know, there is tremendous risk when the identity of an organization is too closely aligned with its leadership. But, Virgin seems to make it work. Trump is equally adept.

Who do you consider to be the greatest brand champion, and how has that person influenced your work?