Rowan Gormley
Encyclopedia
Rowan Gormley is a South African born entrepreneur. His latest venture is Naked Wines
which launched in December 2008.
. He trained as an accountant with Arthur Andersen
in South Africa before moving to the UK in 1987 to work in venture capital for Electra Capital Partners.
in 1994. Branson brought him to Virgin to identify new business opportunities.
When he spotted financial services as a potential area for Virgin to explore, Branson asked Gormley to run it, and Virgin Direct (now Virgin Money
) was born in 1995 with Gormley as CEO.
Whilst at Virgin Direct, Gormley was also behind the launch of The One Account
, now a part of Royal Bank of Scotland
.
Since Virgin Direct, he has launched 3 new start-ups. When he left Virgin Money
he set up Orgasmic Wines with the help of his business partner Laura Knight and his brother Clinton Gormley. The firm became Virgin Wines
in 2000 when Richard Branson
bought into the business.
Gormley left Virgin Wines
in June 2008, when he resigned as CEO.
in December 2008 with 15 of the old Virgin Wines
team.
http://nakedrowan.wordpress.com/ Blog]
Naked Wines
Naked Wines is an online wine retailer founded by Rowan Gormley which launched in the UK on the 1st December 2008.-Launch:The company was founded by Richard Branson's former right-hand-man and serial-entrepreneur Rowan Gormley. Rowan's previous ventures include setting-up and running Virgin Direct...
which launched in December 2008.
Early life
Gormley studied at Selborne College East London and the University of Cape TownUniversity of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
. He trained as an accountant with Arthur Andersen
Arthur Andersen
Arthur Andersen LLP, based in Chicago, was once one of the "Big Five" accounting firms among PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ernst & Young and KPMG, providing auditing, tax, and consulting services to large corporations...
in South Africa before moving to the UK in 1987 to work in venture capital for Electra Capital Partners.
Life at Virgin
Gormley was in private equity for 7 years before going to work for Richard BransonRichard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
in 1994. Branson brought him to Virgin to identify new business opportunities.
When he spotted financial services as a potential area for Virgin to explore, Branson asked Gormley to run it, and Virgin Direct (now Virgin Money
Virgin Money
Virgin Money is a UK-based financial services company owned by the Virgin Group and founded by Sir Richard Branson in March 1995. It was originally known as Virgin Direct, and pioneered index tracking by launching a value Personal Equity Plan into the market. In the 2000s Virgin Money expanded its...
) was born in 1995 with Gormley as CEO.
Whilst at Virgin Direct, Gormley was also behind the launch of The One Account
The One account
The One account Ltd is single-brand subsidiary financial services company offering offset and flexible mortgages in the UK. The company pioneered the offset mortgage in the UK and; was conceived as a joint venture between Virgin Direct and The Royal Bank of Scotland in 1997.Initially, the company...
, now a part of Royal Bank of Scotland
Royal Bank of Scotland
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is a British banking and insurance holding company in which the UK Government holds an 84% stake. This stake is held and managed through UK Financial Investments Limited, whose voting rights are limited to 75% in order for the bank to retain its listing on the...
.
Since Virgin Direct, he has launched 3 new start-ups. When he left Virgin Money
Virgin Money
Virgin Money is a UK-based financial services company owned by the Virgin Group and founded by Sir Richard Branson in March 1995. It was originally known as Virgin Direct, and pioneered index tracking by launching a value Personal Equity Plan into the market. In the 2000s Virgin Money expanded its...
he set up Orgasmic Wines with the help of his business partner Laura Knight and his brother Clinton Gormley. The firm became Virgin Wines
Virgin Wines
Virgin Wines was set up as Orgasmic Wines in 1999. It became Virgin Wines in 2000 when Virgin bought into the business. The company was sold to Direct Wines in 2005, although the Virgin brand and distinctive positioning were very much retained....
in 2000 when Richard Branson
Richard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
bought into the business.
Gormley left Virgin Wines
Virgin Wines
Virgin Wines was set up as Orgasmic Wines in 1999. It became Virgin Wines in 2000 when Virgin bought into the business. The company was sold to Direct Wines in 2005, although the Virgin brand and distinctive positioning were very much retained....
in June 2008, when he resigned as CEO.
Naked Rowan
Gormley set up Naked WinesNaked Wines
Naked Wines is an online wine retailer founded by Rowan Gormley which launched in the UK on the 1st December 2008.-Launch:The company was founded by Richard Branson's former right-hand-man and serial-entrepreneur Rowan Gormley. Rowan's previous ventures include setting-up and running Virgin Direct...
in December 2008 with 15 of the old Virgin Wines
Virgin Wines
Virgin Wines was set up as Orgasmic Wines in 1999. It became Virgin Wines in 2000 when Virgin bought into the business. The company was sold to Direct Wines in 2005, although the Virgin brand and distinctive positioning were very much retained....
team.
Websites
http://www.nakedwines.com/rowan Naked Page]http://nakedrowan.wordpress.com/ Blog]