Xpat Interview: Gavin Millar

Born & grew up in sunny South Africa. After military service I decided to join the merchant navy whilst studying engineering. I left the navy because amongst other things such as not seeing land for 2 or 3 weeks at a time, there was a severe short supply of ladies. Then while studying full time I worked as a night manager in a pub which was owned by then SAB (South African Breweries).

They employed me at Isando Brewery in 1989 and I have worked in many different roles since and breweries since then. In 1999 they bought Pilsner Urquell in Czech & were kind enough to offer me a job as part of the integration team. The 1st year was spent on some project work developing new packaging and developing local skills & the next 3 years was spent running the Velke Popovice Brewery just outside Prague. While running the brewery we grew volumes to such an extent that we had to expand it and add in another 50% capacity (the sales are still growing now by the way). In my last year there, we won a number of awards including best dark beer and best lager beer in the American Beer Awards & Gold Medals in many other competitions. One of goals was also to develop local talent to take over from me & in 2004 the company again kindly offered me a job in Hungary in the now SABMiller Europe HQ. Hungary was the European HQ as Dreher Sorgyarak was one of its early investments. I moved to Hungary as the European Packaging Consultant, doing work for the 20 breweries in this region.

Unfortunately as a result of the now infamous austerity measures, it became too expensive for the business to stay in Hungary & a new home was found in Switzerland. The offices are in the process of being moved & will be completed in September, with a shared service function (the Hungarian staff) remaining.

Interview:

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
2004 - the company transferred me here from Czech

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Czech Republic

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
How much it grows on you and how quickly Hungary seduced me as I never thought I would enjoy it as much as I did.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Me, then Hosok Tere, Budavar, Fisherman's Bastion, Szecseny Furdo, Parliament, the river & all the bridges.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Túró Rudi, gulyás leves.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Water & milk Á

7.What is your favourite Hungarian word?
I have a few words & they need emphasis - JAJ!!! ISTENEM!! Or alternatively - de cuki vagy depending on the circumstances ;-)

8. What do you miss most from home?
A special dried meat called biltong.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
IT.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
Sales or credit control

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
South Africa

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
Italy in the Alps on my motorcycle.

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Jethro Tull, Zorba the Greek,dreaming

14. What can't you resist?
Lamb grill on the spit ala the way Greeks do it.

15. Red wine or white?
Red - anytime. White is too acid for me.

16. Book or movie?
Movie

17.Morning person or night person?
Night definitely - much to the chagrin of others.

18. Dog person or cat person?
Definitely cat. I had 3 and 2 have passed from old age sadly.

19. Buda or Pest side?
Pest - biztos.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
?You can?t always get what you want? - Rolling Stones.