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Michael commenced his working life in the fashion industry in London after 3 years of studying design, textile technology and undertaking sabbaticals at The London College Of Fashion.
Post studies he entered the world of fashion buying for leading west end stores and travelled the world sourcing luxury goods whilst staging musical and fashion events around London. For five years he was caught in the eccentric world of high fashion, submerging himself in UK's vibrant 1970's and 80's live music scene and escaping to the mountains to fulfill his lifetime hobby of rock climbing and mountaineering.
In 1986 a retail opportunity too good to resist was offered which took Michael back to his favoured part of the world, Asia and into the cauldron of fast paced Hong Kong where he found he excelled and further extended his global travels to over 60 countries worldwide.
In 1990 the Asian journey continued when he moved to Singapore and joined Mr Ong Beng Seng, one of Asia's leading businessmen and entrepreneurs. His portfolio of roles extended from high end retail to cutting edge street wear to furnishings and then onto entertainment and hotel development, branding and marketing.
For the past 17 years he has headed up Lushington Entertainments, S E Asia's leading Live music promoter, touring such acts as the Eagles, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Michael Jackson, Linkin Park, The Police & Johnny Cash to name but a few. With over 150 top ranking shows staged over 7 countries and in excess of US$70 million turnover generating 1.1 million ticket sales it served as a perfect platform to enter the broader and more challenging platform of Formula 1.
In 2007, Michael negotiated terms and contracts with Formula 1, All Sports Management, Singapore Government and title sponsor SingTel, to stage the worlds first Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix on a street circuit night race in downtown Singapore under lights. With no motor sports knowledge it was fast track learning and game on.
Singapore GP was formed under Mr Ong and Michael Roche was appointed the Executive Director to oversee the massive task of delivering and event from scratch in only 18 months.
His team delivered the 3 day spectacle to worldwide acclaim from both the industry, the media and all 300,000 of the sell out crowd. Installing over 80 bars, clubs and food outlets inside the circuit, having over 300 performers and live acts strutt their stuff on 8 stages in the circuit park, creating a corporate experience of ultra high end suites for 13,000 VIP patrons and accrediting close to 40,000 working personnel per day to make the event a reality. It's subsequent recognition of the three top industry awards was an acknowledgment of how private and public sector of working in tandem can reach a goal that Singapore could only have dreamed of in decades gone before.
In 2009 with Michael back in the F1 trenches, amidst economic & Formula 1 turmoil, Singapore GP and Singapore Tourist Board yet again stepped up their game, dug deeper on their marketing and corporate activations and upped the anti with a superb line of music and entertainment all over the city. Come end September, as darkness fell; the lights again glistened, the engines roared through the heart of downtown Singapore and 240,000 race and party fans packed the grandstands and sky decks of the 160 corporate suites and sold out Paddock Club.
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