CTM Career Pathways: Ollie Severs

Mixing sport with travel – pinch me, it must be a dream

There is nothing ordinary about Ollie’s career, from working the opposite of the 9-5 to supporting families repatriate during a global pandemic to now mixing it with professional sporting teams. Opportunities have been plentiful at CTM and led Ollie to a role as the Sports Operations Executive, a role that has seen him travel with professional football teams, living and breathing two things Ollie loves – sport and travel. Let Ollie’s story inspire you to spread your wings and try new things.

Ollie’s Career Pathway – Snapshot

• 2017 – Senior Out-of-Hours Consultant
• 2020- Repatriation and Quarantine Support
• 2021 – Sport Operations Executive (CTM Sport)

What attracted you to joining the travel industry?

Growing up, I was very fortunate to travel all over the world on family holidays, and today, some of those places no longer exist. For example, what is now known as Serbia and Montenegro was formally known as Yugoslavia; a country split due to cultural and religious divisions. Now there is some travel trivia for you.

With travel in my veins, I embarked on a leisure travel career and it was only then that I understood how many different areas there are within the travel industry to work in.

There are many corporate travel companies, so what attracted you to join CTM?

I attended a business travel show where I engaged in conversations with people from CTM who educated me on all the different opportunities possible within the business and they pride themselves on developing staff within to support their career growth aspirations. It was the “personal development” opportunities that grabbed my attention.

What has been your career highlight at CTM?

I love sports so it was an easy decision for me to say yes to a secondment within CTM Sport as the Senior Academy Travel and Logistics Executive for a Premier League Football Club (when I say football for those not in Europe, I mean soccer ?). I was looking after the academy teams from U16s – U23s, arranging their travel, and accommodation for away games, as well as helping some European teams that were also traveling to London to play. It was an amazing opportunity to see how the logistics work within a football club, which I was able to learn a great deal from.

What do you enjoy most about the CTM culture and why?

The flexibility! CTM is very accommodating, and they empower you to succeed and achieve your career aspirations.

Have you been involved in any CTM employee initiatives during your CTM journey? If so, please explain how these initiatives have impacted your career development and employee experience.

I was fortunate enough to be peer-nominated for a CTM All Star Award in 2022 under the category of “Special Brands.” The reward trip for all the CTM All Star winners is in Dubai in 2023 and I am very much looking forward to meeting with my fellow All Star winners, forging new and stronger relationships, and making life-long career memories.

What has been your most valuable learning experience at CTM and why?

Joining CTM Sport within the CTM Group has presented an opportunity for me to learn a lot more about CTM products offered to our customers. Through this process, I have learned a lot about the wider business and our customers’ needs.

What is the best piece of advice or guidance you have received from a CTM leader or colleague that made an impact on you?

So many of us have great ideas or aspirations, but the fear of failure holds us back. I think the best piece of advice I have been given is – Don’t let your fear decide your fate and don’t let your fear of doing something wrong or making a mistake impact the choices you make.

Tell us an interesting fact you have discovered while working in the travel industry.

India’s trains transport approximately 23 million passengers a day!

What advice would you give to others considering joining CTM, or considering a change of career direction?

The travel industry is fast-moving, so be prepared to get your skates on, and learn every day and CTM will support you along your career pathway.

Have you had the opportunity to travel in your role at CTM? What has been your favorite travel experience?

As part of the CTM Sport team, I have been fortunate to travel to many places across Europe to support our customers. I would say the best trip was Sevilla in May 2022 for the Europe League Final – working in 37-degree heat at 9 pm, is something I could get used to. My main role on this trip was to manage and support the traveling fans over to Sevilla for the final. We coordinated 6 aircraft, the ground transportation from the airport to the center of Sevilla and back to the airport after the game. To be part of the experience and the organising of this, will always be my favorite travel experience within CTM.

In no more than 5 words, how would you describe your CTM employee experience?

Welcoming, rewarding, flexible, caring, entertainment