Team
We are an experienced team with a culture of integrity, full-transparency,
and continuous improvement.
and continuous improvement.
Investment & Research team
| Name | David Cornell |
| Job title | Managing Director & CIO |
| Joined | 2010 |
| Experience | 25 years |
| Previous employers | Henderson Global Investors, New Star |
| Favourite dish | Sali Boti |
David Cornell joined Ocean Dial in January 2010 from Henderson Global Investors and is an Executive Director of the Company. He is based in London having been resident in Mumbai for three years until July 2013. He started his career in 1995 covering India for Robert Fleming Securities, ran the BDT Emerging Market Fund from 2004 to 2008 which compounded at over 25% per annum during his tenure and then co-managed New Star’s Institutional Emerging Market Fund. He has a degree in English and History from the University of Durham and was in the British Army from 1991-1995.
| Name | Gaurav Narain |
| Job title | Co-Head of Equities, Principal Advisor (ICGF) |
| Joined | 2011 |
| Experience | 26 years |
| Previous employers | New Horizon, ING, SG Asia |
| Favourite dish | Butter chicken |
Gaurav Narain joined Ocean Dial in November 2011 and has been involved with the Indian markets for the past 25 years. He has held senior positions as both a Fund Manager and an equities analyst for New Horizon Investments, ING Investment Management India and SG (Asia) Securities India. He holds a Masters in Finance and Control and a Bachelor of Economics from Delhi University and is based in Mumbai.
| Name | Tridib Pathak |
| Job title | Co-Head of Equities, Principal Advisor (GTIF) |
| Joined | 2019 |
| Experience | 30 |
| Previous employers | Enam, IDFC, Lotus |
| Favourite dish | Misal Pav |
Tridib Pathak is the Principal Advisor to the Gateway to India Fund and has over 30 years’ experience in managing Indian listed equity assets for domestic and international investors. He joined Ocean Dial in 2019 from the Enam Group, where he was a senior portfolio manager. His previous roles included CIO of Lotus Asset Management (a JV with Temasek’s Fullerton Fund Management) and CIO of DBS Cholamandalam, a JV with DBS of Singapore. Over his long career he has maintained a consistent investment style, based on a process orientated, bottom up, fundamental approach to stock picking and portfolio construction, regardless of benchmark considerations and with a long term outlook.
| Name | Shahil Shah |
| Job title | Assistant Portfolio Manager & ESG Analyst |
| Joined | 2005 |
| Experience | 16 years |
| Previous employers | N/A |
| Favourite dish | Bhel Puri |
Shahil Shah was part of the original Ocean Dial investment team which was set up in 2005. He specialises in Telecommunications, Consumer, Healthcare, and Media sectors, and is responsible for integrating ESG analysis into the investment process. He holds a Masters in Commerce and Finance from Mumbai University and is based in London. Shahil works with Gaurav Narain conducting investment research for ICGF.
| Name | Saurabh Chugh |
| Job title | Analyst |
| Joined | 2006 |
| Experience | 17 years |
| Previous employers | Dolat Capital |
| Favourite dish | Butter Chicken |
Saurabh Chugh was the part of the original investment team and joined in 2006. He specialises in Information Technology, Energy, Transport, Infrastructure and Soft Commodities. He holds an MBA in Finance from Nirma Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and is based in Mumbai.
| Name | Ritika Behera |
| Job title | Analyst |
| Joined | 2021 |
| Experience | 12 years |
| Previous employers | Elara, B&K, Crisil |
| Favourite dish | Rajma Chawal |
Ritika Behera joined Ocean Dial in April 2021 and is based in Mumbai. She has 12 years of experience in equity research covering the BFSI sector. She previously worked in the institutional equity research team of Elara Capital, as Lead Analyst for Diversified financials, covering Non-banking financial, insurance and brokers. Prior to this, Ritika worked for B&K securities. Ritika is currently studying for her CFA level II exam and has an MBA in Finance.
| Name | Dhaval Somaiya |
| Job title | Analyst |
| Joined | 2021 |
| Experience | 4 years |
| Previous employers | PhillipCapital, Ebix Cash Financial Technologies |
| Favourite dish | Dosa |
Dhaval Somaiya joined Ocean Dial in January 2021. He has 4 years of work experience in public equities and FinTech. He previously worked for PhillipCapital as a Research Analyst with a primary focus on the Indian Real Estate Sector and ancillary focus on Retail, FMCG and Cement sectors. Prior to PhillipCapital, Dhaval worked for Ebix Cash Financial Technologies. Dhaval holds a Masters in Finance (Gold Medallist) from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), Mumbai and B.E in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from Mumbai University. He has cleared his CFA Level -II examination.
| Name | Vishal Agarwal |
| Job title | VP - Investments |
| Joined | 2022 |
| Experience | 18 years |
| Previous employers | Enam Group |
| Favourite dish | Pani Puri |
Vishal Agarwal joined Ocean Dial in February 2022 and is based in Mumbai. He has 18 years of equity research experience. He previously worked with the Enam group in their Investment Management team as an analyst covering the Technology, Media, Telecom, EMS, Logistics & Aviation sectors. Prior to this, Vishal worked for Franklin Templeton, Citi India, Jefferies India, ASK Raymond James & Irevna Research (part of CRISIL now). Vishal holds an MBA from IIM Bangalore and a B. Tech from IIT Bombay
Marketing team
| Name | Swati Jain |
| Job title | Global Head of Sales and Distribution |
| Joined | 2022 |
| Experience | 16 years |
| Previous employers | Ashburton, IIFL Wealth, Kotak (UK) |
| Favourite dish | Pani Puri |
Swati Jain joined Ocean Dial in January 2022 as Global Head of Sales and Distribution. Over her sixteen year career, Swati combines a wealth of experience in asset raising, strategy and distribution with strong relationships across a wide range of investor types and geographies. Prior to Ocean Dial, she has worked for Kratos Capital, IIFL, Ashburton, Kotak and HSBC. Swati has a post graduate diploma in Business Management from the Management Development Institute and a BA (Hons) in Economics from the University of Delhi.
| Name | Aasavari Sarwar |
| Job title | Investor Relations & Executive Assistant |
| Joined | 2018 |
| Experience | 2 years |
| Previous employers | Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts |
| Favourite dish | Malvani prawn curry |
Aasavari Sarwar started her career as a hotelier, specializing in direct sales for 10 years prior to joining Ocean Dial. In her current role, she provides administrative support to Operations Team in the Mumbai office along with managing executive diaries & travel. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Travel Management & Bachelor of Commerce from University of Mumbai.
Operations team
| Name | Robin Sellers |
| Job title | Chief Executive Officer & Compliance |
| Joined | 2011 |
| Experience | 25 years |
| Previous employers | Close Brothers Group |
| Favourite dish | Lamb Madras |
Robin Sellers joined Ocean Dial in December 2011 and has over 25 years’ of experience in the financial services industry, most of which was gained at Close Brothers Group plc where he was Head of Group Finance, Group Company Secretary and Finance Director of Close Brothers Limited, the group’s regulated bank. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA) and spent the early part of his professional career with international accountants, Coopers & Lybrand, both in the UK and Australia.
| Name | Latesh Mota |
| Job title | Operations Manager |
| Joined | 2018 |
| Experience | 10 years |
| Previous employers | Avezo Advisors |
| Favourite dish | Dhansak |
Latesh Mota has over 10 years’ experience in Operations and Compliance. He is an MBA from the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, U.K. Prior to joining Ocean Dial he worked with Avezo Advisors Private Limited (associate company of Avendus Capital Private Limited), a private equity fund focused on early stage Venture capital investing. He has also worked as Operations manager for Portfolio Management services.
| Name | Sagar Kanal |
| Job title | Assistant Manager Operations |
| Joined | 2020 |
| Experience | 7 years |
| Previous employers | Best Alternative Advisory Services |
| Favourite dish | Butter Chicken |
Sagar has 7 years’ experience in Fund Operations. Prior to joining Ocean Dial, Sagar worked with Best Alternative Advisory Services, specialising in back/middle office fund operations for US and UK-based fund houses. He has a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from the N.L Dalmia Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai.
