Director talk: Ominder Dhillon
Ominder is a director of City of London and Fidelity Special Values.
In the boardroom
What’s the number one skill you bring to the board?
How to effectively market to retail and professional shareholders.
Who’s been the biggest influence on your career?
David Morris, an old boss who became a dear friend. He set high standards and was the most intellectually curious person I have known.
What is the proudest moment of your career?
Launching M&G’s institutional business into Japan and North America.
“I love the tiny local neighbourhood bars in Tokyo and the beauty of Kyoto.”
Ominder Dhillon, director of City of London and Fidelity Special Values
What’s the most challenging part of your job as a trust director?
Navigating the plethora of urgent (but not always important) issues facing NEDs without sacrificing focus on the core job of delivering for shareholders.
What advice would you offer to new directors?
Ensure you understand the role your trust plays in shareholders’ portfolios and the distinctive reasons why an investor would choose it over direct and indirect competitors.
Away from work
What’s your number one desert island disc?
The album version of Weight of love by the Black Keys (or almost anything by them to be honest).
Of all the places you have visited on your travels, which comes top of the list and why?
Japan – I love the tiny local neighbourhood bars in Tokyo and the beauty of Kyoto.
If you had to cook for a dinner party, what would you make?
I would cook Keralan style monkfish curry and try to curb my enthusiasm on the spices.
What are you terrible at?
Stopping after one bag of crisps.
What do you do for fun?
A mixture of the gym, country walks, reading and rampaging through a good first person shooter on my PS4.
Ominder is on the board of Fidelity Special Values and The City of London Investment Trust. He was previously Global Head of Institutional Distribution at M&G and, prior to that, Managing Director, Global Business Development, at Impax Asset Management.
