Phone: 202-467-6600  
Email: neil.dhillon@mslgroup.com

Neil Dhillon serves as managing director of MSLGROUP's Washington office where he oversees the office’s client and new business development, talent recruitment and key client relationships. He has over 30 years of experience in executive management, communications and public affairs in Washington, D.C. and experience working with a multitude of CEOs, foreign government leaders, trade association executives and non-profit organizations.

Dhillon also serves as director of public affairs for the MSLGROUP Americas network and plays a vital role in assisting the network with strategy and direct access to the Obama Administration and U.S. Congress congressional committees and caucuses. He provides expert counsel on the legislative and regulatory process and thought leadership platforms.

In Government, Dhillon was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation where he managed a large legislative and state affairs staff and helped direct the U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Aviation Administration, National Highway Transportation Safety Board, Federal Railway Association and other agencies on policy issues. Dhillon participated at regular White House briefings on legislative and regulatory matters involving transportation crisis issues and negotiated daily with Members of Congress on transportation budgets and initiatives. Dhillon also served in the U.S. Congress for ten years, most notably as Chief of Staff to Congressman Bob Matsui (D-CA), who served on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and as legislative director to Congresswoman Beverly Byron (D-MD) on the House Armed Services and House Energy and Commerce committees.

In Crisis Communications, Dhillon has served many top-tier clients in high-profile cases such as Enron Corporation (post bankruptcy), Debswana Diamond Company and DeBeers Diamonds (conflict diamond issues), International Olympic Committee (anti-doping), Hewlett-Packard (executive management change), Cayman Islands (financial services investigations), Republic of India (IT outsourcing), Coalition of Commercial and Investment Banks (de-regulation of derivatives).

Prior to joining MSL Washington, Dhillon was managing director of Ruder Finn's D.C. office. There, he built a successful public affairs practice, and, on behalf of clients, interacted daily with Congress and The White House to assist on policy issues affecting their businesses and industries. He also served for six years as director of public affairs for Hill & Knowlton where he led an award-winning public affairs practice.