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Neil Dhillon
Managing Director, Ruder Finn DC
Neil serves as Managing Director of Ruder Finn's Washington office. He has more than 23 years experience in government and media affairs having served as a Subcabinet member for President William Jefferson Clinton and Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Bob Matsui (D-CA). He has devised winning legislative initiatives, managed diverse coalitions, and has broad international experience, working closely with Prime Ministers, Presidents, and Corporate Executives. In addition to the U.S., he has strong working knowledge of the financial, media and political markets in the UK, Africa, and Asia.
For the President of the United States, Neil served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Government Affairs for President Clinton at the U.S. Department of Transportation. He provided essential congressional intelligence directly to the Secretary of Transportation (Hon. Federico Pena) and senior White House legislative and communications staff. He negotiated appropriations and presidential initiatives directly with Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and dealt with a myriad of policy and transportation crisis events.
In Congress, Neil served as chief of staff to Congressman Bob Matsui (D-California - Ways and Means Committee). In this capacity, he served as his top policy advisor on all domestic and international matters, including appropriations, defense, energy, financial services, healthcare, tax, trade and transportation issues. He also served as legislative director and speechwriter for Congresswoman Beverly Byron (D-Maryland) where he helped manage her role on the House Armed Services Committee and post as Chair of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel and Compensation. Neil traveled extensively to multiple military bases around the country to help monitor personnel issues and military readiness.
Neil also played a key role in Congressman Matsui's tenure as Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee during the '92 presidential campaign. He helped manage the business and minority community outreach program and traveled extensively with the Clinton-Gore campaign team. He later served as one of the directors of the 1993 Inaugural Committee.
In public relations and corporate management, Neil presently serves as Managing Director for Ruder Finn. Previously, he served as National Director of Public Affairs for Hill & Knowlton International and the MWW Group. He provides daily strategic policy and media counsel to clients on all congressional and White House policy initiatives. He maintains close working relations with the White House, national media, and lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Neil graduated from The American University in Washington, DC.



