Virgin Direct to launch ‘Young Branson’ television ads

A long haired but beardless Richard Branson will appear in a new TV campaign for Virgin Direct PEPs and pensions at the end of the week.

A 20-second ad for the Virgin Direct Growth PEP features footage of Branson as a student being interviewed about his entrepreunerial skills.

The tongue-in-cheek ad carries the strapline “No tax but the same dodgy haircut”.

The second ad, which promotes pensions, shows clips from a family cinefilm of Branson as a young boy.

Jo Barnett, head of advertising at Virgin Direct, says: “We wanted to produce ads showing Richard Branson at different lifestages to make points about the products’ simplicity.”

Both ads were created by TBWA Simons Palmer. Media planning is by Manning Gottlieb Media. They will run on Channel, ITV and satellite.

Total advertising spend for the first quarter is 4m. Product development manager Martin Campbell reveals Virgin Direct has recently used a DM agency for the first time – GGT Direct.