I wish I’d smiled says boss who beat Tube strike on a scooter

Andrew Rose, finance director of Gulfsands Petroleum, was pictured on page one of the Evening Standard riding a scooter to get to his office.

Transport for London had urged commuters to find alternative forms of transport to avoid the disruption caused by the walkout.

Mr Rose first heard that his picture was in the paper after his daughter spotted it and called him.

He said: "I think anybody in that position would be surprised to see themselves in the paper. If I'd known, I would've smiled. My daughter saw it first and then when my colleagues saw it they convulsed with laughter. I'm thankfully back on the Tube now." Mr Rose, whose business has a market value of £350 million, said he had learned valuable lessons on his journey last Tuesday to Gulfsands Headquarters off Regent Street.

"Normally I take the Tube and walk to my office like any sane human being," he said.

"On a scooter you realise how many hills there are in London that you never knew about, how weak your legs are and that traffic holds no prisoners."

He added: "Strikes are just one of those things that happen and you work your way around."

The Cambridge engineering graduate previously worked in investment banking before becoming chief financial officer and director of oil and gas company Burren Energy. He joined Gulfsands, where he was credited with fighting off a bid approach from Oil India and Indian Oil, in 2008.

Three more strikes by RMT union members are planned.