David Baxby
David Baxby | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 12, 1973 Sydney, Australia |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Known for | Co-CEO of Virgin Group, CEO of Global Blue |
David Baxby previously served as CEO of Global Blue and was Co-CEO of the Virgin Group. Born on 12 September 1973 in Sydney, Australia, he is responsible for managing the Virgin Group's worldwide branded investment ventures.
Roles
In 2011, Baxby was named Co-CEO of Virgin Group alongside Josh Bayliss. He stepped down from this position in April 2014 to assume the role of CEO at Global Blue. His non-executive directorships include:
- Virgin Australia since September 2006
- Virgin Atlantic since March 2007
- Virgin Holidays since March 2007
- Virgin America since January 2009
His prior board memberships include Non-Executive Director roles at Virgin Active Australia (2008–2011), Air Asia X (2006–2011), and Chairman and Director of Virgin Money (2004–2008).
In May 2024, Baxby was appointed Chancellor of Bond University.
Early career
Following his graduation, Baxby spent a year as a Corporate Finance Analyst at Arthur Andersen. In 1996, he joined Rothschild as an investment banker, where he managed gold royalty agreements, oversaw Philex Mining's IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and focused on telecom sector valuations.
He then dedicated eight years to Goldman Sachs, working in Sydney and London as Partner and executive director. Highlights of his tenure include:
- Serving as Co-Head of the consumer and industrial sectors within investment banking from 2002, leading a team of 20 bankers and generating $75 million in annual revenue
- Providing advisory services to prominent clients such as Fosters, Promina, ANZ, the Australian Government, Deutsche Bank, Vodafone, and Luxottica
In 2003, Baxby advised Virgin Group on the IPO and partial sale (50% stake) of Virgin Blue, which initiated his professional relationship with Richard Branson.
Branson appointed him CEO of Virgin Management Asia Pacific and Global Head of Aviation in 2004. Operating out of Geneva, Sydney, and Shanghai, Baxby was instrumental in launching Virgin's airline business in Australia before relocating to Shanghai (2006–2008) to grow Virgin's footprint in China. Subsequently, he moved to Geneva to manage Virgin’s aviation investments.
He was promoted to Co-CEO of Virgin Group in 2011, overseeing global branded investments until his transition to CEO of Global Blue in 2014.
Education
Baxby earned a Bachelor of Commerce with concentrations in Accounting and Finance, along with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours), from Bond University, graduating in 1994.
Accomplishments
In July 2012, Bond University awarded Baxby the Robert Stable Alumni Medal recognizing outstanding graduate success. At age 32, he was the youngest individual featured on the BRW Expatriates under 45 list. His academic distinctions include multiple scholarships for Law and Business studies, Dean’s List recognitions, runner-up Valedictorian honors, and various academic awards.
Hobbies and charitable associations
An enthusiastic cyclist, Baxby has supported the Starlight Children's Foundation’s ‘Tour de Kids’ for more than eight years. In 2013, he completed a fundraising cycling tour around Tasmania. He chairs Virgin Unite in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on initiatives aiding at-risk youth, particularly addressing homelessness and substance abuse. His personal interests also encompass skiing and travel.