Disruptor Rowan Gormley: From Boksburg via Branson to Majestic

LONDON — Rowan Gormley's journey of mentorship by two of world's best entrepreneurs through his own startups and running liquor retail industry disruptor Majestic Wine. – Alec Hogg

This is the Rational Perspective, I'm Alec Hogg. In this episode Rowan Gormley, the man who was transforming the world's wine retailing business. When I arrived for our interview at his farm near Bungay in Suffolk, Rowan Gormley was in shorts and a pink golf-shirt busy watering plants in a small greenhouse. A few hours later he'd be hosting 300 people in a marquee set between his homestead and the ruins of Mettingham Castle, which is also on his property. The castle was built by one Sir John de Norwich in 1342. But there's no airs and graces about the fellow who now lives on the property, as you'll hear from our conversation. That's Gormley's style – relaxed, informal, and engaging. We sat out in his garden during the height of a fairly hot English summer, mercifully cooled by a breeze from the Atlantic a few miles away. In person, his style reminded me a bit of Richard Branson, which is not really surprising considering that for some years Gormley actually worked with the famous founder of Virgin. His story starts though in the South African industrial town called Boksburg, a place better known for producing pugilists, like world heavyweight champion, Gerrie Coetzee, than professions who go on to change the world.

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