Director talk: Mai Fenton

Who’s been the biggest influence on your career?

My biggest career influence wasn’t a person, but the cultural duality I’ve experienced, being born in France of Vietnamese parents. Learning to navigate between different cultures taught me to see opportunities others missed and communicate effectively across perspectives – skills that proved invaluable in marketing.

What some might have seen as a challenge (being ‘different’) became my greatest professional advantage.

What is the proudest moment of your career?

I helped transform a business unit that had been making losses for years into breaking even within just one year.

While this was a collaborative effort, I drove the transformation through marketing: beginning with customer insight and segmentation, identifying target audiences and mapping purchase decision journeys. This all informed our complete redesign that emphasised direct-to-customer ecommerce.

What’s the most challenging part of your job as a trust director?

Beyond the perennial challenge of discount management, I find one of our biggest hurdles is effectively communicating the unique value of investment trusts to retail investors.

Investment trusts are sophisticated vehicles with distinct advantages, yet their structural complexity can make them difficult to explain in a way that resonates with individual investors who have increasingly diverse options.

Away from work

Of all the places you have visited on your travels, which comes top of the list and why?

Peru. The cultural richness is extraordinary – from exploring ancient Incan ruins at Machu Picchu to witnessing centuries-old traditions in small Andean communities. I loved the warmth and hospitality of the Peruvian people.

At the time, my Spanish was almost fluent, so I was lucky to be able to engage with the locals. This human connection transformed what could have been simply sightseeing into a memorable cultural exchange.

If you had to cook for a dinner party, what would you make?

Either a refined five-course Vietnamese dinner (arguably one of the most exquisite, fragrant, and healthy cuisines) or a classic French raclette, a convivial feast of melted cheese, meats, vegetables and potatoes. The former requires endless preparation, while the latter is wonderfully low-effort yet interactive, sociable and fun.

What are you terrible at?

Darts. I’ve had my fair share of friendly competitions at Flight Club (the social darts bar) with colleagues, and when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, I even bought a professional dartboard to practice at home. Despite countless attempts, YouTube tutorials and family games, my skills refused to improve. At this point, I’ve accepted my fate and settled for cheering on Luke Littler… mostly because he’s from my kids’ generation!

What is a hidden talent that few people know you have?

I’m surprisingly good at DIY! I enjoy fixing things and take pride in being resourceful when it comes to household repairs or solving little operational challenges. In fact, I’ve never had to call a handyman – though, to be fair, that’s also because my husband is even better at it than I am.

What do you do for fun?

I exercise a lot to keep myself mentally and physically healthy – whether it's gym workouts, outdoor military-style fitness, or simply going for a run. I also love socialising with friends and spending quality time with my family, whether we’re out for the day or enjoying a cosy night in. My favourite family board games are Out of Order and Herd Mentality, both guaranteed to bring plenty of fun and laughter.

Mai holds a number of other positions in addition to her board role on Henderson International Income. She is non-executive director of Scottish Friendly; trustee and chair of the Remuneration, Nomination and HR Committees at Dallaglio RugbyWorks, and director and fractional chief marketing officer at How and When, the marketing consultancy.