A business executive with an international reputation for his successful leadership, Will Whitehorn has held such positions as the former President of Virgin Galactic. Known for his influence on global corporate teams, Will’s skills across communications, growth strategy and crisis management set him above the rest and have led him to become one of the most respected in his field. Currently spearheading UKspace, Will also dedicates much of his time to speaking engagements, recognised for high impact, high engagement talks. An exception speaker on business management, Will supports his corporate clients in developing innovative teams of the future.
Best known for his extensive career at Virgin, Will was often referred to as Richard Branson’s right-hand man, a testament to the trust Branson had in Will as a business executive. Initially joining the international giant in 1987, Will dedicated 23 years to supporting Virgin’s success, originally onboarded as a Brand Development and Corporate Affairs Director. Responsible for coordinating PR, marketing and branding for Virgin, Will ensured the brand was seamless, and professional. In 2004 he was named the President of Virgin Galactic, tasked with pioneering the first human-carrying commercial spacecraft, a history-defining role.
Having gained a degree in History Economics from the University of Aberdeen, Will pursued an early career in search and rescue. As a young adult Will had been a member of the Air Cadets, leading him to become a crewman on the North Sea helicopters and later with Thomas Cook. During such time, Will harnessed his expertise in leadership and management under pressure, qualities that ensured his success as a business executive and advisor to Sir Richard Branson.
In recent years, Will has continued to be an influential figure in global business, holding senior positions including Deputy Chairman of Stagecoach Group plc, Chairman of Clyde Space Ltd and Non-Executive Director of Purplebricks Group. Currently, Will has several non-executive roles within businesses and is the President of UKspace. Alongside his career, Will is a sought-after speaker for corporate clients and industry events, known to discuss his extensive impact on global business and the qualities that led him to the top. Will is also highly impactful when discussing business leadership, innovation and communication within teams.
"I would like to thank you very much for an excellent and informative presentation during our American Express Business Travel Client & Partner Summit event at Chelsea Football Club the other week and the feedback we have received to-date has been excellent. It was also a pleasure to work with you and we look forward to working with you again in the future." - AMEX
"I just wanted to write thank you for coming all that way to speak to us last night. You had all of us spellbound by what you said and it added so much to the evening and to the message that we wish to portray about innovation and looking outside the box." - Lord Stafford Awards
- 1987-2004 – Brand Development & Corporate Affairs Director at Virgin
- 2004-2007 – President of Virgin Galactic
- 2011-2020 – Deputy Chairman at Stagecoach Group plc
- 2019 – Current President of UKspace
How to hire Will Whitehorn
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Will Whitehorn for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
