David Baxby

David Baxby is an Australian business executive and investor.

After an early career in investment banking, he joined the Virgin Group in 2004 and served as co‑chief executive from 2011 to 2014, focusing on the group's aviation and branded investment activities.

He later headed the Swiss tax‑free shopping company Global Blue from 2014 to 2015, led the industrials division of Wesfarmers from 2017 to 2020 and co‑founded private‑equity firm Coogee Capital in 2021.

Baxby became chancellor of Bond University in 2024, the first alumnus to hold the role.

Education Baxby studied at Bond University on a scholarship, completing a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in 1994.

Virgin Group – Baxby joined the Virgin Group in 2004. As global head of aviation and later co‑chief executive (2011–2014), he was responsible for the group's airline businesses and other branded investments.

Global Blue – In April 2014 he was appointed chief executive of Global Blue, a Swiss‑based tax‑free shopping and payment services company, and served until 2015.

Chancellorship and other roles Baxby was elected the ninth chancellor of Bond University in May 2024, becoming the university's first alumnus to hold the post.

He had previously received the inaugural Robert Stable Alumni Medal in 2013.

Outside his professional roles, he supports charitable causes such as the Starlight Children's Foundation's Tour de Kids cycling fundraiser. He also served as chair of Virgin Unite in the Asia–Pacific region, the Virgin Group's charitable arm focused on youth‑centred initiatives.