Michel Taride on Britain as a central hub for business
In a Foreign Office film launched today, the French-born President of Hertz International highlights the unique attributes that make the UK such a good place for international businesses.
The film is one of the ‘See Britain through my eyes’ series featuring individuals from abroad talking about their experiences of modern Britain in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.
In his short ‘See Britain’ film, Michel highlights how people across Britain share respect for a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, making for a very open minded society that attracts companies such as Hertz to base their international head offices there. He refers to the fact that among the eighteen members of staff who directly report to him, 10 different nationalities are represented - a fact that epitomises the multicultural society that exists in the UK.
As a proud Frenchman who modestly began his career taking reservations and washing cars as a junior member of staff at Hertz, it’s been quite a rise to fame for Michel to his current position as President of Hertz International. He highlights significant skills and expertise as well as the extensive knowledge of global markets as key reasons why the UK is such a central hub for business.
Michel oversees the operation of the Hertz’s offices outside of the US. The company now has over 8000 locations in 147 countries worldwide. As well as making an obvious contribution to Hertz’s growth over the years, Michel is also a member of the European Car & Truck Rental Association (ECATRA) and a board member of the Global Travel & Tourism Partnership (GTTP).