DIARY: Stories we could tell ... Branson flies high for Asian launches

<p>It's good to see that Virgin's publicity hound Richard Branson </p><p>hasn't let the economic blues dampen his hearty appetite for media </p><p>exposure. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>With so many new businesses to launch in Asia, Branson has been clocking </p><p>up the frequent flier miles, zooming across the region. And at each </p><p>stop, the indefatigable Branson brings a veritable circus to town. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Diary's spies down under say Branson didn't stop a smaller budget or </p><p>heavyweight rivals like Optus and Telstra stop Virgin Mobile making a </p><p>louder noise when Australia allowed mobile phone users to change </p><p>operators and retain their telephone numbers. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>He simply got into a tank and headed down Sydney's highways. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>By the time you read this piece, Branson would have been up to another </p><p>publicity-grabbing trick - he would have abseiled down a building in </p><p>Singapore to announce Virgin Mobile's launch in the city. Let's see if </p><p>skimpy budgets will encourage other CEOs to trade the executive suite </p><p>for an adrenaline- pumping publicity rush - a la Branson? It's Diary's </p><p>dare to regional chieftains. And there's a truly great prize in store </p><p>for media-hungry companies on a lean budget - a page full of pictures to </p><p>show off any infamous stunt that even Branson would envy. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>