Gerrard in strategic hire to bolster its international capability
Gerrard Chauffeur Drive hires Justin Sambridge, who has a wealth of experience in the international market, in a bid to become a serious global player.

Justin Sambridge will join Gerrard in March to head up its International Services department. Sambridge has grown up in the ground transport industry and gained valuable experience in a variety of roles. Most recently he has been running the international division at Addison Lee.

Justin’s remit at Gerrard will include managing Gerrard’s already extensive affiliate network and developing both outbound and inbound international bookings.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity,” commented Sambridge. “My job is threefold: Firstly to take a serious look at Gerrard’s existing offering and international supplier network and strengthen it; secondly, to roll-out the improved international service to Gerrard’s existing and potential clients and, thirdly, to carefully manage the international bookings we receive and ensure Gerrard provides the same impeccable standards whether the client’s pick-up is in London or Los Angeles.”

“We are simply building on and improving an existing service,” added Rupert Beecroft, Managing Director of Gerrard. “1 in every 5 of Gerrard’s bookings is carried out overseas. This hire shows that Gerrard is serious about the international side of its business and believes it is deserving of its own separate division. We now intend to become an ambitious global player.”
Global Reach
Gerrard offers both executive cars and chauffeur services in nearly 200 cities worldwide. This level of coverage has been achieved by developing a trusted partner network over a number of years. Each affiliate Gerrard works with has been vetted to the nth degree. In fact, it is the same due diligence process Gerrard undergoes with its own chauffeurs. All licenses, insurances and vehicles are rigorously checked; service level agreements and non-disclosure agreements signed.

“What Justin brings to the table is his contact list,” said Rupert Beecroft. “Over the years Justin has developed an impressive web of vendors spanning the globe. He doesn’t just know them by name, he has jumped on a plane and had a coffee with them, looked them in the eyes. The benefit for our clients is not just the excellent coverage, or the fact we are able to offer competitive rates in these destinations, it is that we really know and trust these suppliers as our own.”
Micro-management
Operationally, Gerrard’s international bookings are treated in exactly the same way as its domestic ones, and the same level of attention to detail applied to each. Gerrard monitors each pick-up across the globe on a 24/7 basis and remains in continual communication with chauffeur and client throughout the process.

Driver details are sent to the passenger well ahead of time, so Gerrard’s client can board a flight with complete peace of mind that he/she will be met at the other end by a trusted and high quality chauffeur.

“The service doesn’t stop there,” added Martin Cox, Commercial Director. “Gerrard can provide a full Meet and Greet service at the destination airport and designated luggage vans to transport the passenger’s baggage to their final destination. For our truly discerning and time-poor passengers we can even offer a White Glove service, whereby the passenger’s luggage will be collected from their home or office ahead of departure and it will be waiting for them in their hotel room in their destination city.” Security
If Gerrard’s clients are travelling to challenging locations, Gerrard can even offer its passengers secure chauffeur services. This will be offered under the auspices of Gerrard’s new secure division, GSD. “More and more of our clients see the value in this specialised service, perhaps because of a perceived security risk, or the peace of mind that comes from knowing the chauffeur has been specially trained to react should a threat materialise,” added Martin Cox, founder of GSD.

“If we see value in offering this to our clients in London, why not when our passengers are travelling overseas where there could be an even greater need for the service,” added Martin.

Looked at as a whole, Gerrard is clearly laying the foundations to become a well-rounded international chauffeur company. This latest strategic hire takes Gerrard one step closer to that goal.

For further information, please contact:

[email protected]
Commercial Director

Phone: + 44(0) 7909 534 372