EU-based executive assistants working your UK hours. Fully managed, ready in 9 days, no long-term contracts. Save 15+ hours every week - with a 60-day trial.
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A virtual executive assistant is a remote professional who provides strategic, high-level support to CEOs and founders - not just basic admin tasks, but genuine operational partnership. They manage your inbox, coordinate your calendar, handle stakeholder communication, prepare meeting materials, organise travel, and take ownership of the operational complexity that eats into your leadership time.
The key difference between a virtual executive assistant and a standard virtual assistant is the level of autonomy, judgement, and business understanding they bring. A VA follows instructions. A virtual executive assistant anticipates what you need, makes decisions on your behalf, and operates as an extension of you, handling the work that keeps your business running smoothly while you focus on the work that grows it.
At DonnaPro, every virtual executive assistant is based in the European Union, works during UK business hours, and is trained specifically in CEO and founder support. They are real people, not AI tools, who happen to be very good at using AI to work faster and smarter on your behalf.
The two titles describe different tiers of support and the price gap between them reflects a real difference in what you get.
A virtual assistant completes tasks you assign. You set the priorities, you check the output, and you remain the person deciding what matters. That works well when the work is defined and repeatable: data entry, scheduling within rules you have set, inbox sorting, research to a brief.
A virtual executive assistant is given outcomes instead of tasks. They decide which meetings deserve your time, answer on your behalf inside agreed limits, chase the people who owe you deliverables, and raise problems before you notice them. You delegate a result, not a checklist.
The practical test is whether you want to stop assigning work or stop doing it. If you still want to direct the work, a virtual assistant is the right and cheaper answer. If you want the direction handled too, you need executive-level support.
We compare the two in detail, including cost at equivalent hours, in our virtual assistant vs executive assistant comparison.
If you are still weighing it up, we answer is a virtual executive assistant worth it directly, and set out how to hire a virtual assistant in the UK when you are ready.
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HubSpot
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Salesforce
Calendly
Office 365
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Make
Dropbox
Google Sheets
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Zapier
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Motion
StripeOur executive assistants take over the operational workload that keeps you stuck in the weeds. Here is what that looks like in practice, broken down by the areas where founders typically lose the most time.
Your EA takes full ownership of your inbox: filtering, prioritising, drafting responses, and flagging only what genuinely needs your attention. They handle stakeholder communication, manage follow-ups, and ensure nothing critical falls through the cracks. Most founders go from 200+ unread emails to inbox zero within the first week.
No more double bookings, back-to-back calls with no breathing room, or meetings that should have been emails. Your virtual executive assistant manages your calendar strategically, protecting deep work blocks, coordinating across time zones, and ensuring your schedule reflects your actual priorities rather than whoever asked first.
For founders managing investor relationships, your EA coordinates board materials, schedules updates, manages data room access, and ensures quarterly reports go out on time. They understand the sensitivity and professionalism these relationships require.
Your EA prepares briefing materials before every important meeting: attendee backgrounds, relevant context, talking points, previous correspondence. After the meeting, they handle action items, follow-ups, and scheduling of next steps. You walk in prepared and walk out without a trailing to-do list.
Whether it is tracking deliverables across teams, managing timelines, chasing updates from contractors, or keeping a product launch on schedule, your EA keeps projects moving forward without requiring your constant oversight. They flag issues before they become problems.
Competitor analysis before a pitch, market data for a board presentation, background on a potential partner; your EA gathers, synthesises, and delivers what you need in a format you can act on immediately. You walk into every conversation informed without spending your own time digging.
Because life does not pause when you are running a company. Holiday planning, gift sourcing, family appointments, insurance renewals, household admin; your EA handles the personal logistics that otherwise eat into your evenings and weekends.
Complex itineraries, visa requirements, hotel preferences, ground transport, contingency plans when flights get cancelled. Your EA handles it all. You get a confirmed itinerary in your calendar. That is it. No more spending 45 minutes comparing flight options.
Your EA conducts the background research that makes you look prepared without spending your own time digging. Competitor analysis before a pitch, market data for a board presentation, background on a potential hire or partner, due diligence summaries; they gather, synthesise, and deliver what you need in a format you can act on immediately.
My mindset before was that I need to do it all... it was slowing me down and costing my business money. Working with my EA allowed me to focus on new business opportunities that I didn’t have time for earlier, and it directly impacted my business growth.
DonnaPro doesn’t just connect you with an assistant and walk away. They constantly recruit, train, and equip their personnel. When our assistant showed up, she was ready not to learn, but to lead. We didn’t have to recruit, train, or worry about compliance – we just had to plug her into our work.
I’ve been working with virtual assistants for the past decade, and I think that right now I’m at a point where I feel that my search for the perfect virtual assistants is over.
I meant it when I said I needed help, and DonnaPro has really delivered. It has really impacted how I work and it has allowed me to focus on the things that really mattered.
Esteban A. MirandaCEO @ European Food Banks Federation / Non-Profit / NGOWorking with DonnaPro and Grace has made a real difference to both my work and personal life. I feel more prepared, less rushed, and things I used to think about but never get around to are finally getting done. Honestly, it’s the best support I’ve had in years.
Andrew RobertsCEO & Partner / Biotech & Pharmaceutical IndustryAfter a long time managing everything on my own in the start-up world, I realised I needed help. My EA has been amazing in managing my calendar, travel plans, T&E, and other small yet time-consuming tasks. We had morning check-ins at the beginning that paid off well. Now, I can much better focus on growing the business. Working with a Donna through a trusted virtual assistant agency makes delegation friction-free.
Jochen R.CEO @ MedTech Company / Medical Device IndustryI used to manage my own travel, emails, and calendar, even while running multiple businesses. Then my EA (Romina) stepped in. She’s proactive, reliable, and keeps everything running smoothly without me having to ask. Our daily check-ins keep me on top of things, and her inbox summaries are a lifesaver when I’m travelling. I finally have the headspace to focus on what matters.
Dominic WhiteInvestor, Entrepreneur & Adventurer / Financial Services IndustryMy EA, Petra, has been very helpful during a particularly chaotic time in one of my businesses. With minimal guidance, she quickly adapted, proactively started searching for solutions, and delivered results. I love how I can just ping her on WhatsApp, and things get done seamlessly.
Daniel WeisslerFounder @ winTEC Solutions / Automotive Software IndustryMy EA doesn’t just complete tasks; she proactively identifies and solves potential issues before they become problems. Whether it’s a scheduling conflict or a looming deadline, my EA is always one step ahead, saving me countless headaches.
Lily SovinCo-Founder @ optika-oftalmos.com / Eyewear IndustryI’m super happy with DonnaPro and with Angels. Even though we’ve only been working together for a few weeks, she already feels fully integrated into my business. I really appreciate how proactive she is and how she always brings practical suggestions. It’s such a relief to finally have four eyes instead of just two. We’re definitely on track to becoming a seamless team.
Marie UtschFounder & CEO @ marieutsch.com / Digital Marketing IndustryThree months in, and it’s a relief to have someone who fully gets my tone of voice. Saga handles my inbox with confidence, answers questions independently, and keeps things moving without me needing to chase anyone – even while I was on my first real holiday in years.
Rubina RautFounder & CEO @ wuka.co.uk / Personal Care, E-commerce
DonnaPro works exclusively with CEOs, founders, and business owners. Our clients understand that delegation to a capable, trusted professional is not a luxury; it is the highest-leverage decision they can make. They are done managing the noise and ready to focus on what actually moves the needle: growth, strategy, and the life outside work that makes all of it worthwhile.
Based on years of placing virtual executive assistants with leaders across 110+ industries, we have found that our service delivers the most value for three types of founders.
This model perfectly suits busy startup founders who live for the thrill of growth – turning challenges into victories and chasing big opportunities. But the weight of endless tasks is dragging them down. They’re buried in the day-to-day grind, handling work that someone else could easily manage, while their boldest ideas are put on hold. It’s time for them to step up, focus on their vision, and lead their business into its next chapter.
This CEO has built a business others admire – a strong foundation, reliable systems, and steady results. But instead of enjoying their success, they are constantly wondering: “How can I stop managing my own inbox and calendar?” The constant demands of the day-to-day are leaving no time for growth or personal fulfilment. It’s time for them to reclaim their freedom & focus on what matters most.
This entrepreneur is the master of juggling multiple businesses, always chasing the next big win. From the outside, they’re unstoppable, but behind the scenes, the chaos of details and deadlines is eating away at their focus. They’re a visionary, wired for big-picture thinking, but the grind is holding them back. They need someone to handle the noise so they can keep driving their empire forward.
While every leader's situation is different, the core outcome is the same: reclaiming the time and headspace to lead strategically instead of drowning in operations.
We do not serve everyone. Every part of our service, from how we recruit and train to how we match and manage quality, is designed specifically for leaders running businesses. Your virtual executive assistant understands founder pressure, investor timelines, board dynamics, and the unique challenge of managing both a business and a personal life simultaneously. That focus is what makes the support genuinely useful rather than generically adequate.
Every DonnaPro EA is based in the European Union, typically 0-2 hours from GMT. That means real-time collaboration throughout your working day rather than relying on overnight handovers that reduce responsiveness. You get time zone alignment and Western business culture without paying UK employment costs.
You are not just getting an assistant; you are getting an entire support infrastructure. Every client has a dedicated Account Manager and Quality Manager behind their EA. If your EA is unavailable, we provide back-up cover. If something is not working, we intervene before it becomes a problem. You delegate to your EA. We manage everything else.
For CEOs comparing options, this is what makes DonnaPro a reliable managed executive assistant service rather than a freelance marketplace, shared-assistant model, or unmanaged VA arrangement.
The first 60 days are completely commitment-free. You can walk away at any point, no questions asked. After that, the engagement continues on a rolling monthly basis. We do not need to lock you in because 91% of clients choose to stay.
Your virtual executive assistant is a real person with genuine business experience and interpersonal intelligence. But they are also trained to use AI tools - ChatGPT, automation platforms and productivity systems - to work faster and handle more volume than a traditional EA. You get the judgement and emotional intelligence of a human combined with the speed and efficiency of modern tools.
Let's look at actual numbers: not vague comparisons, but what you would really spend.
£500-900/mo
£2,000-3,200/mo
£2,350/mo
91% continue after trial
£6,813+/mo
Want more details? Visit our pricing page.
Not sure which option is right for you? Start with a free 30-minute strategy session.
We'll help you figure out what support you actually need, even if it is not us.
Our virtual executive assistants are not limited to UK founders - we work with CEOs and business owners across 13+ countries. Same EU-based EAs, same managed service, same 60-day trial. Your location doesn't change what we deliver.
GermanyVirtual executive assistant for Germany-based founders who need reliable EA support without local hiring complexity, high salary expectations, or slow onboarding.
Explore Germany ›
United KingdomVirtual executive assistant for UK CEOs who want executive support without London salaries, employer NI contributions, recruitment delay, or another freelancer to manage.
Explore United Kingdom ›
SwitzerlandVirtual executive assistant for Swiss CEOs who expect precision without Swiss-level hiring costs, canton salary pressure, or a prolonged EA search.
Explore Switzerland ›
NetherlandsVirtual executive assistant for Dutch and international founders who need fast, English-first support across inbox, calendar, travel, and operations.
Explore Netherlands ›
DubaiVirtual executive assistant for Dubai-based founders who want EU-based support, structured follow-up, and reliable execution across EMEA time zones.
Explore Dubai ›
FranceVirtual executive assistant for France-based founders who operate internationally and need reliable English-first executive support during European business hours.
Explore France ›
SpainVirtual executive assistant for Spain-based founders working internationally who need English-first EA support without building a local admin team.
Explore Spain ›
IrelandVirtual executive assistant for Ireland-based founders who want UK/EU-hours support without hiring another full-time local admin role.
Explore Ireland ›
NorwayVirtual executive assistant for Norway-based leaders who want remote EA support without local salary pressure or long hiring cycles.
Explore Norway ›
DenmarkVirtual executive assistant for Danish founders who need to protect focus, delegate recurring admin, and avoid turning hiring into another internal project.
Explore Denmark ›
BelgiumVirtual executive assistant for Belgium-based founders across Brussels, Antwerp, and international markets who need structured English-first EA support.
Explore Belgium ›
ItalyVirtual executive assistant for Italy-based CEOs who need structured follow-up, inbox ownership, and operational support without more local hiring bureaucracy.
Explore Italy ›
USAVirtual executive assistant for US founders who want EU-based assistants handling admin, research, and follow-ups overnight while you sleep.
Explore USA ›
CanadaVirtual executive assistant for Canada-based founders who want EU-based EA support, overnight progress, and fewer internal admin bottlenecks.
Explore Canada ›
AustriaVirtual executive assistant for Austria-based founders who want German-market precision without Vienna salary costs, local hiring delays, or another freelancer to manage.
Explore Austria ›
FinlandVirtual executive assistant for Finland-based founders who need reliable English-first EA support across inbox, calendar, and operations without building a local admin team.
Explore Finland ›
LuxembourgVirtual executive assistant for Luxembourg-based founders and financial executives who need discreet, English-first support without the cost of local hiring.
Explore Luxembourg ›
SwedenVirtual executive assistant for Sweden-based founders who want structured, English-first EA support without Nordic salary costs or a prolonged local search.
Explore Sweden ›
AustraliaVirtual executive assistant for Australia-based founders who need reliable EU-hours coverage and follow-through without hiring another local admin role.
Explore Australia ›
Your country not listed?DonnaPro has placed EAs with founders in Austria, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Australia and more. If English is your working language and your schedule at least partially overlaps with European business hours, we can assess fit in a free 30-minute call.
Book a free strategy call ›The operational challenges of running a business are remarkably similar whether you are building a SaaS platform, managing a law firm, scaling an e-commerce brand, or leading a financial advisory practice. Our virtual executive assistants do not claim to be industry specialists; they are executive support specialists who understand your business context and adapt quickly to your world.
That approach has worked across 110+ industries because the CEO workload, including inbox, calendar, coordination, stakeholders and personal admin, is fundamentally the same regardless of sector. Your EA learns your specific industry dynamics during onboarding and deepens that understanding every week they work with you.
Close more deals and accelerate portfolio growth with a start-up virtual assistant who thrives in fast-moving environments. Transform deal coordination, LP communications, and due diligence scheduling from bottlenecks into competitive advantages while you source the next unicorn.
View moreAccelerate deal flow and portfolio performance with an investment virtual assistant who turns operational complexity into strategic advantage. Seamlessly organise opportunities, prepare investor communications, and manage administrative excellence while you identify and capture market-winning investments.
View moreScale your practice without sacrificing client relationships using a financial adviser virtual assistant who elevates every interaction. Master complex scheduling, confidential correspondence, and meeting orchestration while you build portfolios and forge lasting wealth-building partnerships.
View moreMaximise billable hours and close enterprise deals faster with an IT virtual assistant who understands your high-stakes environment. Transform vendor coordination, compliance documentation, and client communications from time drains into profit drivers while you focus on delivering cutting-edge solutions.
View moreTurn breakthrough research into market-dominating revenue with AI virtual assistant services designed for visionary leaders. Your assistant becomes the operational backbone, managing stakeholder relations, funding coordination and strategic admin - so you can focus on innovations that reshape entire industries.
View moreHit your next MRR milestone faster with a SaaS virtual assistant who transforms operational chaos into growth acceleration. While you innovate and acquire customers, your dedicated assistant handles investor updates, board presentations and strategic coordination, turning administrative burden into competitive advantage.
View moreDrive industrial output and operational excellence with a manufacturing virtual assistant who understands production environments. Master supplier relationships, production scheduling, and operational coordination while you focus on innovation and market leadership.
View moreKeep supply chains moving efficiently with a logistics virtual assistant who thrives on operational complexity. Transform shipment tracking, carrier coordination, and communication management into competitive advantages while you focus on strategic growth and expansion.
View moreBuild a thriving educational platform with an education virtual assistant who amplifies your teaching impact. Perfect course scheduling, instructor coordination, and administrative workflows while you focus on creating transformational learning experiences that shape futures.
View moreCreate unforgettable experiences with an event planning virtual assistant who perfects every detail. Transform vendor management, logistics coordination, and guest relations from overwhelming complexity into seamless execution that builds your reputation.
View moreKeep creative projects on track and under budget with a media virtual assistant who understands entertainment industry demands. Master production scheduling, talent coordination, and administrative excellence while you focus on creating content that captivates audiences.
View moreScale your online empire with an e-commerce virtual assistant who drives operational excellence across every channel. Transform supplier communications, marketing coordination, and logistics management into competitive advantages while you focus on product innovation and market expansion.
View moreA virtual executive assistant is a remote professional who provides strategic, high-level support to business leaders. Unlike a standard virtual assistant who handles basic admin tasks reactively, a virtual executive assistant operates proactively, managing your inbox autonomously, anticipating scheduling conflicts, coordinating with stakeholders on your behalf, and making judgement calls about priorities. At DonnaPro, every executive virtual assistant is EU-based, works UK hours, and is trained specifically in CEO and founder support.
A virtual assistant handles clearly defined tasks that you assign: data entry, basic scheduling and simple admin. They work reactively and require regular oversight. A virtual executive assistant operates as a strategic partner with genuine business understanding. They manage your operational ecosystem proactively, anticipate problems, communicate with stakeholders on your behalf, and make independent decisions within agreed boundaries.
Offshore VAs run £500–£900/month but come with time zone and quality challenges. UK freelancers on platforms like Upwork cost £2,000–£3,200/month but you manage them yourself. DonnaPro charges a flat £2,350/month for a dedicated, fully managed virtual executive assistant working UK hours. A full-time in-house EA in the UK costs £4,800+ per month once you factor in salary, NI, pension, equipment, and HR administration.
Every DonnaPro EA is a real person - a skilled professional with genuine experience supporting CEOs and founders. However, they are also trained to use AI-powered tools like ChatGPT / Claude to work faster and more efficiently. You get human judgement and emotional intelligence combined with AI speed and capability.
Your EA integrates remotely into your existing workflow using the tools you already use: Slack, Asana, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, WhatsApp, or whatever you prefer. They operate as a proactive partner rather than waiting for instructions, taking ownership of outcomes: organising your files, preparing documents, managing your email and calendar end-to-end, and coordinating with your team and external stakeholders.
DonnaPro is the only executive assistant service designed exclusively for CEOs and founders. Our EAs are EU-based and work UK hours, the service is fully managed with dedicated Account and Quality Managers, and the first 60 days are commitment-free. That combination of CEO focus, managed quality, and zero-risk trial is what sets us apart from generalist VA services.
Inbox and email management, calendar coordination, travel planning, meeting preparation, project tracking, investor and stakeholder communication, document preparation, research, CRM management, hiring support, and personal administration including holiday planning, appointments, and household logistics. We regularly support over 70 different task types across our client base.
Yes, and most clients find this is one of the most valuable parts of the service. Your EA handles everything from scheduling board meetings and managing your inbox to booking personal travel and organising family events. They switch seamlessly between business-critical tasks and personal administration.
That is completely normal for our clients; roughly a third manage multiple ventures. Your virtual executive assistant is equipped to handle the added complexity: managing separate calendars, tracking projects across different businesses, and ensuring smooth communication with different teams.
Most clients go from their first strategy session with actively delegating within 9 business days. That includes the matching process, onboarding, and initial handover, compared to the 2-4 months it typically takes to recruit and onboard a full-time in-house EA in the UK.
The first 60 days are completely commitment-free. If the match is not right, we will either find you a better-suited EA or part ways with no penalties and no notice period. After the trial, the engagement continues on a rolling monthly basis; there are no long-term contracts. That flexibility is only possible because 91% of our clients choose to stay.
Yes. Every DonnaPro EA undergoes thorough background checks and signs comprehensive confidentiality agreements. We are fully GDPR-compliant under both UK and EU frameworks, and formal data security protocols are built into every client engagement. If you prefer an additional NDA, we are happy to arrange that.
Almost certainly not. We have successfully supported founders across 110+ industries, from fintech and legal services to construction and e-commerce. Your EA learns your specific industry context during onboarding and deepens that understanding every week. They are executive support specialists first, with industry awareness as an additional layer.
DonnaPro places EU-based virtual executive assistants with CEOs and founders across the UK and Europe. The first 60 days are commitment-free. There are no long-term contracts. The service is fully managed so you are not adding another person to manage; you are removing work from your plate.
If you are spending more time on operations than strategy, a 30-minute conversation is a good place to start. We will talk through your situation and give you an honest answer about whether a virtual executive assistant is the right move for you right now.
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