Third generation of the O'Hare family and Head of Events

AT TBR Global one of our most important resources is our people. We strive to to make our company a great place to work and create team spirit. But for some of our staff, TBR Global isn’t just a team game, but a family affair. Head of Events Michael Savage is the third generation of the O’Hare family to work for the company and has witnessed its every incarnation, from its early days as Charlton Chauffeur Drive, to its current worldwide reach. 

Name: Michael Savage 

Age: 30 

Job Title: Head of Events 

Favourite TBR vehicle: Mercedes S400 Hybrid 

As Head of Events for TBR Global, Michael Savage leads a multi-national team based across the world speaking half-a-dozen languages. It’s perhaps appropriate then, that upon first conversing with the 30-year-old it quickly becomes apparent Scotland is not the land of his birth. Born in Papua New Guinea before moving back to his parents’ homeland at the age of six, the Glasgow resident has been left with a unique twang that’s difficult to identify - but that he reckons facilitates global communication.

Laughing, he explains: “It’s been called Australian, it’s been called Irish, it’s been called American, I think it’s been called pretty much everything at one point. 

“Considering I’ve now lived in Scotland for more than two decades, I’d like to think the Scottish is creeping in a bit more, but it’s an interesting one.  “I notice the accent fluctuates depending on what nationality I’m speaking to. While TBR is headquartered here in Scotland, as the name suggests we operate on a truly global scale, so if I’m talking to someone in America, there’s a bit of a chameleon effect voice-wise which, psychology-wise, gives you a common ground I guess.”

But when it comes to common ground between his geographically disparate staff, one thing stands out - a commitment to quality and efficiency for their clients. Michael’s role is to take a strategic overview of the seven-strong team that are responsible for providing flawlessly managed ground transport for everything from product launches and major sporting events, to awards ceremonies and conferences. Working with a wide variety of sectors, including pharmaceutical, aviation, financial, media and entertainment, the department has grown by leaps and bounds.

Father-of-one Michael said: “Five years ago we were based around large events happening at specific times of the year. Last year we had a 90 per cent growth within the events team, this year we’re aiming for 60 per cent. The main difference is we were getting our name out there by doing these large events - the MTV Awards, Champions League, Brit Awards - and now that work is very much still there, but that’s not the regular work.  “I see that as being the cream. We’re targeting the smaller events that happen regularly so that we can maintain the same staffing levels throughout the year. “It’s targeting these companies that have conferences. Glasgow is great, because we now have the auditorium, the Commonwealth Games helped the city’s profile, and there are lots of pharma conferences that come here.”

With superlatively-trained and motivated staff able to handle everything from transfer work to managing all transport for complex events start to finish, he’s confident they’ll smash their ambitious growth target. 

But despite the team’s zeal for their work, Michael confides there’s still time for some office banter.  He said: “It’s a great team I have great confidence in. There may be laughs, but Michael is more than serious when it comes to delivering the best quality service to clients. 

A typical day starts at 7am running through yesterday’s requirements and ensuring all clients are getting a response within 15 minutes. This speedy reply isn’t just a matter of courtesy however, but a form of quality control to check the time frame the client requires a quote within. On top of that TBR go above and beyond when it comes to supplying information to the client, as Michael explains.  “We might get an email from a client asking for a price for a business class vehicle in Paris, an airport transfer and a four hour requirement," he said.

“We’ll supply them with the info they want, plus the price for a full day, the departure back, an evening hire and the additional hour in case they go outside the four or eight hour requirement. “We do this as we are used to client asking for information they want, then coming back for a little more, then a little more. “It is better time management, as well as providing the client with more than the information they need. If they indicated they need a 49-seater coach thinking they can only have that size, then we’ll give them a costing for a range of coaches in case, say, they only need 39.”

TBC