George Freegard
International brand manager, Pusser’s Rum, on sneezing, being a wolf and not meeting the Queen
What was your first-ever job? As a dishwasher in a French restaurant.
What’s been your worst job interview? It was bank interview for a summer job - I had sneezed and not realised that most of it had landed on my tie. I didn’t get it.
What was the first music single you bought? Bang Bang by BA Robertson.
How do you describe your job to your mates? I tell them it’s torturous, that they are lucky they don’t have to do it!
What is the most rewarding part of your job? All of it, the people I meet, the fact that we have such a great product, the places I get to visit…
What is the least rewarding part? The cashflow. Life as a small company means that we live and die by it. When things get tight it is always scary.
What is your motto? If opportunity knocks don’t say no and, most importantly, treat people right.
If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? First-class flights.
Do you have any phobias? I hate dust and dirty surfaces.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? A shower.
What animal most reflects your personality? A wolf - loyal, protective, playful and untameable.
What’s your favourite film and why? Two favourites - Some Like it Hot and Old School. They both make me laugh.
If you could change one thing in grocery, what would it be? I would teach people how to display rum properly and to pay attention to its regions, stills and age.
What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? In 1977 I told my mum I met the Queen, when what I meant to say was “I saw the Queen”. She made a big scene and had me go to the neighbours and invited a bunch of them over to watch the local news broadcast. The piece clearly showed me back in the crowd screwing around while a friend of mine presented her with a bouquet. The room emptied and mum forced me to visit everyone personally and tell them I was a liar. It still hurts today, and I use this story as a lesson for my kids.
Which celebrity would you most like to work with and why? Prince Harry, because no matter what he does he has fun. The charity work and time he spends with people is a core value and never seen as a chore.
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