Michel Taride is the President of Hertz International, the world’s largest vehicle rental organisation operating from over 8000 locations in 147 countries worldwide.
Originally from France, Michel makes no secret of his personal affiliation with Britain. He is proud to be a French man responsible for leading the international division of Hertz from its head office in the UK.
In his ‘See Britain’ short film, Michel refers to the unique characteristics of the UK and its inhabitants, which contribute towards the fact Hertz is one of many American companies choosing to base their international headquarters in the UK. 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 refers to the considerable array of companies and individuals who are attracted to the UK’s strong position as a place for business and believes this can be attributed to the cosmopolitan society in the UK.
As a young man, whose role as a junior member of staff for Hertz included handling reservations and washing cars, Michel’s remarkable rise through the ranks at Hertz now sees eighteen people of 10 different nationalities report to him.
Michel talks about the nation’s willingness to learn from different cultures, saying there’s a unique blend of people with mutual respect for the various backgrounds and beliefs. He comments, "This creativity mixed with the solid structure of tolerance and respect makes for a very good product."
As a Frenchman who’s responsible for Hertz’s expanding global reach, Michel believes it’s the open mindedness of Britain and the common courtesy on show that sets the country aside from other parts of the world.
As well as Michel's obvious contribution to Hertz's growth over the years, he is also a member of the European Car & Truck Rental Association (ECATRA) and a board member of the Global Travel & Tourism Partnership (GTTP).
