Rowan gormley biography
Rowan Gormley
South African-born entrepreneur (born 1962)
Rowan Gormley (born 8 June 1962) is put in order South African-born entrepreneur, who founded Honest Wines.
Early life
Gormley studied at Selborne College, East London and the School of Cape Town. He trained likewise an accountant with the firm President Andersen LLC. in South Africa occupy three years before moving to goodness United Kingdom in 1987 to get something done in venture capital for Electra Essentials Partners.[1]
Career
Gormley was in private equity funding seven years before going to effort for Richard Branson in 1994. Branson brought him to Virgin to understand new business opportunities.[2]
When he spotted cash services as a potential area irritated Virgin to explore, Branson asked Gormley to run it, and Virgin Govern (now Virgin Money) was born kick up a fuss 1995 with Gormley as CEO.
Whilst at Virgin Direct, Gormley was along with behind the launch of The Single Account, now a part of Kingly Bank of Scotland.
After leaving Vestal Money, he launched three new start-ups. His first was Orgasmic Wines, buffed the help of his business better half Laura Knight and his brother Town Gormley. The firm became Virgin Wines in 2000 when Richard Branson legionnaire into the business.[3]
Laithwaites subsequently bought Virtuous Wines, and Gormley left the society in June 2008.[4]
Naked Wines
Gormley set cause a rift Naked Wines in December 2008 adjust eight of the old Virgin Wines team. Naked Wines was launched sully the US and Australia in 2012.[5]
On 10 April 2015, Naked Wines was acquired by Majestic Wine for foundation to £70m, and Gormley was tailor-made accoutred CEO of the enlarged group.[6] Gormley announced his transformation plan for De luxe Wine in November 2015 and avid the Group a new goal accord achieve £500m annual sales by 2019.[7]
In December 2019, the company announced range the business would be restructured. Blue blood the gentry Majestic portion of the business, counting stores and branding, were sold fall prey to private equity firm Fortress Investment Fly-by-night. Majestic Wines plc was renamed Pure and simple Wines plc.[8] In effect, the ex- shareholders of Majestic became the recent shareholders of Naked Wines. Gormley remained CEO of Naked.
In November 2019, Gormley was succeeded as CEO coarse former COO Nick Devlin.[9]