Master Butler Collection Board
Meet Our Chairmen & President
Robert Watson
MBC Chairman
Guild of Professional English Butlers
Rick Fink
MBC President
Ditchley Park
Butler Valet School
Wayne Fitzharris
MBC Vice Chairman
The Professional British
Butler School
Master Butler Collection Honorary Members
Meet Our Honorary Members & The Companies They Represent
Master Butler Collection Board
Rick Fink
President
Butler Valet School at Ditchley Park in Oxfordshire
Welcome Our President – Mr. Rick Fink, President, The Master Butler Collection
It is with the greatest pride and deepest respect that we welcome Mr. Rick Fink as the esteemed President of the Master Butler Collection.
From the tender age of ten, Mr. Fink knew he was destined to serve—not only with skill, but with purpose, precision, and quiet excellence. His journey began in the Royal Navy, where he served as valet to Rear Admiral Torlesse, and later had the distinguished honour of attending to Prince Philip, Mr. Pandit Nehru, and other eminent leaders during his time at sea.
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He quickly rose to the rank of Petty Officer Steward and spent two remarkable years in service to Admiral Sir William Davis, hosting state-level dignitaries including the Kings of Denmark and Norway, and the Queen of the Netherlands.
Upon returning to civilian life, Mr. Fink continued to uphold the highest traditions of service in some of England’s grandest estates, including an 11-year tenure with the Honourable Charles Cecil. His expertise and discretion would go on to earn him personal service appointments to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Princess Diana, and numerous members of both British and international royalty.
Since 2002, Mr. Fink has trained and inspired the next generation of professional butlers through his Butler-Valet School at Ditchley Park—a setting as dignified as the standards he imparts. For over two decades, Ditchley Park has been the home of his teaching legacy, where hundreds of students from around the world have benefitted from his incomparable experience.
In 2025, Mr. Fink announced that he will step back from full-time training at the end of the year. However, his influence will continue through select overseas programs and through his guidance as President of the Master Butler Collection.
He is described by peers and dignitaries alike as “the consummate professional,” “a tribute to the British Armed Forces and his craft,” and “the finest example of the English Butler.”
As President of the Master Butler Collection, Mr. Fink brings not only decades of mastery but a heartfelt mission:
“My students will receive every opportunity to develop the butler and valet skills that I was taught—with a 21st century approach. I feel privileged to offer this to a new generation, while paying homage to a bygone age.”
It is this spirit—of legacy, mentorship, and quiet excellence—that defines Mr. Fink’s leadership and embodies the very essence of the Master Butler Collection.
Robert Watson
Chairman Master Butler Collection
The English Guild of Professional Butlers
Robert Watson Appointed Chairman of the Master Butler Collection
We are honoured to welcome Robert Watson as Chairman of the Master Butler Collection, a figure whose legacy in the world of butlering and refined service stands as an inspiration to professionals worldwide.
With over 27 years at the helm of the Guild of Professional English Butlers, Robert has personally led the establishment and training of butler services across more than 100 prestigious hotels, cruise ships, private estates, and superyachts.
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His extraordinary career is defined not only by global reach, but by a philosophy that resonates deeply with our Collection: great service is a universal language.
Robert’s gift lies in seamlessly adapting butler service traditions to a diverse array of cultures and luxury environments, always maintaining the highest standards of elegance and discretion. His enduring client relationships and dedication to nurturing talent reflect the very spirit of the Master Butler Collection — a home for excellence, integrity, and the pursuit of perfection in private service and hospitality.
As President, Robert brings visionary leadership, unmatched expertise, and an unwavering commitment to the future of the profession. He will play a pivotal role in guiding our community, inspiring the next generation of butler professionals, and upholding the Collection’s values of excellence, respect, and continuous evolution.
Together, under Robert’s distinguished guidance, we embark on an exciting new chapter — one that honours tradition while embracing the future of butlering with pride and purpose.
Wayne Fitzharris
Vice Chairman
Visionary and Trainer with Aspire Globally Limited &
The Professional British Butler School
Wayne Fitzharris Appointed Vice Chairman of the Master Butler Collection, Founder of Aspire Globally, The Professional British Butler School and Globall Search International
It is with great pride that we announce Wayne Fitzharris as Vice Chairman of the Master Butler Collection. A visionary leader and an esteemed figure in global hospitality, Wayne brings an unparalleled depth of experience, passion, and dedication to the elevation of service excellence worldwide.
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As Managing Director of Aspire Globally Ltd, Founder of The Professional British Butler School, and the force behind bespoke solutions for elite clients across the globe, Wayne has spent over 25 years shaping the future of luxury service. His career has seen him orchestrate transformative experiences within royal palaces, prestigious private households, five-star hotels, and ultra-luxury events, always with an unwavering commitment to surpassing expectations.
Wayne’s distinguished journey includes leading roles with the Royal Hashemite Court, The Dorchester, Conran Restaurants, and private residences of distinction. His expertise spans executive recruitment, elite butler and household training, and strategic consultancy for some of the world’s most discerning clientele. With a unique ability to merge classical precision with modern luxury sensibilities, Wayne embodies the values at the very heart of the Master Butler Collection.
As Vice Chairman, Wayne will champion the Collection’s mission to curate a global fellowship of excellence, nurturing talent, shaping the future of service, and upholding the proud traditions of the butler profession while inspiring new standards of innovation and distinction.
His appointment signals a new chapter of growth, vision, and unity for the Collection — a future where heritage meets forward-thinking leadership, and where the art of service remains not only alive but continually redefined at the highest levels.
Welcoming Our Honorary Members
We are honoured to welcome five esteemed leaders in the world of luxury hospitality and professional butler training as Honorary Trainers of the Master Butler Collection.
Each individual brings a lifetime of dedication, global influence, and an unwavering commitment to service excellence.
These members represent the very spirit of our Collection — timeless excellence, forward-thinking mentorship, and global collaboration. Their appointment reaffirms our commitment to uniting the finest minds in hospitality for generations to come.
Sean Davoren, Director of Butlers and Celebrity Extraordinaire
The Dorchester Hotel, London, United Kingdom
Global Ambassador and Star of the Savoy Documentaries.
“A kindred spirit for our values and traditions and someone who instills the disciplines of exactly what it is to be a professional Butler”.
Antony Paton, Former Managing Director of Soneva Resort Group
Royal Palace Manager, the Hashemite Family of Jordan.
“One of the first Palace Managers in Aqaba who brought new levels of Professionalism to the lives of their majestives King Hussein and Queen Noor a formidable Leader and passionate hotelier, who has brought exacting standards to make Soneva one of the top resort properties in the world today. Antony is one of the worlds best teachers.
Josephine Ive, Principal Trainer & Director
Royal Palace Manager, the Hashemite Family of Jordan.
“One of the first Palace Managers in Aqaba who brought new levels of Professionalism to the lives of their majestives King Hussein and Queen Noor a formidable Leader and passionate hotelier, who has brought exacting standards to make Soneva one of the top resort properties in the world today. Antony is one of the worlds best teachers.
Vincent Vermeulen, Founder & Managing Director
School for Butlers & Hospitality, Belgium
“A visionary redefining modern butlering, keynote speaker, and author of Guestology 2.0.”
Kurt Campbell, Senior Butler (Ret.) & Hospitality Mentor
Mandalay Bay Resort & Culinary Workers Union Local 226, USA
“A 32-year icon of Las Vegas hospitality, blending butler mastery and sommelier finesse.”
Steven Ferry, Former MBC President and Founder
The Institute of Modern Butlers & Master Butler Collection
“A guiding force whose leadership helped shape the Collection’s international prestige.”
Aubrey Ada
Raffles Makati
Manila
Architect of the Butler Mindset in Philippine Luxury Hospitality
Aubrey is a transformative leader who redefined what luxury looks like in the Philippines. As the first Filipina Hotel Manager of the dual-branded Fairmont and Raffles Makati, she cultivated a service culture where every colleague embraced the mindset and pride of a true professional butler.
Alistair Forrest,
Managing
Director
Aspire Caribbean and Honorary Member
Global Ambassador resident in Antigua & Barbuda
“A hospitality strategist and former General Manager of elite Caribbean resorts and villas.”
These members represent the very spirit of our Collection — timeless excellence, forward-thinking mentorship, and global collaboration. Their appointment reaffirms our commitment to uniting the finest minds in hospitality for generations to come.