Exceeding Expectations
Joint Founder of Master Butler Collection, Luxury Trainer and Former Chairman
I am passionate about service that comes from the heart and consistently exceeds expectations.
With over 40 years of management experience in the hospitality industry, I have loved every moment of my journey. My introduction to the world of butling came about quite unexpectedly. I was headhunted for an interview in Washington D.C. for the role of Butler to the family of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Although the role was ultimately offered to another candidate with formal butler training, the experience sparked something in me.
Intrigued and inspired, I began researching the profession and enrolled in The Guild of Professional English Butlers’ training programme, led by the esteemed Robert Watson. To my delight, I found that many of the skills and disciplines I had mastered in the hotel world were highly transferable to private service. I completed the training successfully and stepped into a new, deeply fulfilling chapter of my career.
Trust and confidentiality quickly revealed themselves as the cornerstone values of the butler and house management profession. As my career evolved, I was fortunate to hold positions where maintaining these standards was paramount.
My first post as a butler was in Oxfordshire, serving a prominent family in the food and beverage industry. This provided me with an excellent foundation in the traditions of a classic English household. From there, I accepted a role based in Austria, which involved extensive travel with the principal to residences across the globe. This position broadened my perspective and offered insight into the nuances of European household operations.
In my most recent appointment, I was entrusted with overseeing the full internal operations of a private family palace in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with occasional assignments in Jeddah. I led a team of over 160 multinational staff, ensuring the highest standards of service were consistently delivered to the family and their guests.
Following my tenure in KSA, I pursued a teaching qualification to formally transition into training and mentorship. This led to the creation of my personal training venture, Exceeding Expectations. Through this, I’ve had the privilege of sharing my knowledge, skills, and experience with aspiring professionals across the hospitality industry—helping them discover how to truly exceed guest expectations.
Training assignments have taken me across the world, including London, Riyadh, Las Vegas, PR China, Tokyo, Singapore, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, and Mexico—each enriching my perspective and sharpening my approach.
As Oscar Wilde so aptly put it:
“I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.”
