Sir Richard Branson joins Metro as guest editor

Metro US, the fourth-largest daily newspaper in the nation, announces that one of the world’s most legendary businessmen, Sir Richard Branson, will be the global guest editor today. Branson is the latest in Metro’s series of global guest editors, which has previously included pop superstar Lady Gaga and fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld.

“The Global Guest Editor provides a huge opportunity to Metro’s advertisers and partners,” says Yggers Mortensen, CEO and publisher of Metro US. “Through this unique event, we can deliver a massive reach and impact to our clients and provide an opportunity to communicate and interact with our highly interesting target group. Additionally, these events strengthen and sharpen our brand and show the power of our global presence.”

The Lady Gaga campaign reached an astonishing 800 million people, and the Karl Lagerfeld edition, campaign and surrounding PR reached more than 1 billion people; the same impact is expected with Branson’s special issue. The events were broadcast on most major news stations around the world in both previous cases.

Metro is the meeting point between readers and advertisers, and the Global Guest Editor initiative provides a unique opportunity for advertisers to receive the attention of millions of Metro readers and be associated with a true business and lifestyle mogul. It is a great opportunity for new brands to reach our global audience.

“We are honored to host such a prestigious, global figure, and fascinated to see what insight he can give,” says Metro US Editor-in-Chief Tony Metcalf. “He is one of the business icons of the late 20th century.”

Sir Richard Branson is the founder of Virgin Group, which has created more than 300 branded companies ranging from airlines, mobile, financial services, clean tech and space travel; it employs approximately 50,000 people in 30 countries with more than $21B in revenue. “SCREW NEWSPAPERS AS USUAL” is a continuation of the ideas he championed in his recent book, “SCREW BUSINESS AS USUAL,” where he shares his and others’ exciting vision for doing business — a vision that turns capitalism on its head and shifts values from a solely profit focus to a focus on people, communities and the planet, along with profits.

As global guest editor, Branson will spend the day in the Metro US newsroom, where he will work with editors, guide the news coverage and comment on the day’s news for the edition along the theme of “Risky Business.” All content will run in Metro newspapers around the world.