Steve Ridgway

Fee Band

  • Conference Speakers£10k to £25k
  • After Dinner Speakers£10k to £25k
  • Reputation, Branding & Marketing, Change Management, Corporate Turnaround, Customer Service & CRM, Business Competitiveness, Social Responsibility, Transformational Leadership, Business Strategy

CEO of Virgin Atlantic for over a decade, Steve oversaw the huge expansion of what has become one of the world’s biggest and most respected airlines. Widely admired for their service culture, marketing and innovation, Steve offers an insight into the Virgin brand and strategy. After dinner, Steve reveals the boardroom secrets of Richard Branson and what it was like taking charge of the Virgin Challenger Blue Riband yacht team.


Biography

Steve Ridgway was CEO of Virgin Atlantic for over a decade. In that time he oversaw the company build on its initial success and expand exponentially from a fleet of just two 747s to over 40 long-haul aircraft, carrying over six million passengers on routes across Europe, Asia and the world. The company became one of the best known in the world, winning awards for service, innovation and business.

Joining the company just a few years after Richard Branson started it, Steve was soon appointed MD of Virgin Freeway, the company’s frequent flier business. He moved to the board as Executive Director of Customer Services at Virgin Atlantic before becoming MD and was then appointed CEO. Steve became a leading voice in the airline industry and his company developed an enviable reputation for service, marketing and innovation. Virgin became the UK’s second largest long-haul carrier and an international brand.

Steve’s career has also taken in sales for Cavenham Foods, teaching, working for a power boat builders and an F1 constructor, and he now co-owns a Cornish hotel with his brother.

In speeches Steve examines the Virgin brand and business; how it’s grown, its core values, its view of the business landscape, consumers and strategy. He talks about leadership and leadership style, both his own and that of Sir Richard. His experience of risk and crisis management takes in incidents like 9/11. He also looks at Virgin’s impressive customer service reputation, its work with partners and other businesses it has acquired, and its social and environmental responsibilities.

After dinner, Steve offers an insight into the sometimes surprisingly unconventional Virgin world, his time captaining the two Virgin Challenger yachts in the Blue Riband Challenge, and what working with Richard Branson is really like.

Videos

JLA Speakers Breakfast - March 2014

Contact

We’re on hand to help you find the perfect speaker, presenter or performer for your events. Call or email our London office and use our agents' experience to expertly match you with the right person for your programme!


From time to time we send out emails announcing new speakers and free tickets to our showcase events including Speakers Breakfasts and the JLA Real Variety Show. Please tick the box below if you would like to receive these emails.

Don't miss anything!

We will never share the data you submit here with a third party. Information is stored in a database in order to service your enquiry, but is deleted once it is no longer required. You may request to have this data removed at any time.

JLA Presents

Risk Speakers Breakfast event image.
Event - 17/09/2024 - 09:00

Speakers Breakfast

Navigating Risk and Chaos – Strategies For Coping With An Uncertain World.

Speakers
Clive Myrie, Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, Rt Hon Lord Parker of Minsmere, and Robin Niblett

On Tuesday 17th September we had the pleasure of hearing from a remarkable panel of speakers, who shared their expertise on the challenges of managing Risk in a chaotic world.

The panel featured esteemed speakers, Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton KFSM (Firefigter and Neuroscience researcher), Lord Parker of Minsmere (Andrew Parker, Former Director General of MI5), and Sir Robin Niblett (Former Director and Chief Executive of Chatham House). The event was hosted superbly by Mastermind and BBC News presenter Clive Myrie.

Over the hour, our panellists explored Risk on multiple levels, from global affairs to business environments and personal everyday challenges. They provided valuable insights into how we can better manage and mitigate Risk in today’s unpredictable world.

 

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

WATCH
AI Speakers Breakfast event image.
Event - 30/04/2024 - 09:00:00

Speakers Breakfast

Understanding AI Now

Speakers
Priya Lakhani and Anne-Marie Imafidon

We were joined at 87 Barts Close by three brilliant speakers on a panel that delved into the complex world of Artificial Intelligence. Over the hour our panellists de-mystified AI, speaking about AI’s immense promise for enhancing our lives, alongside the apprehension it has generated regarding job security, privacy infringement, and ethical considerations.

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

WATCH