Dinesh Dhamija

Dinesh Dhamija’s Biography

Dinesh Dhamija is a British Indian entrepreneur, author, politician and philanthropist who made his name as the founder of online travel agency ebookers and is now at the forefront of negotiations on a UK India trade deal. A first-generation immigrant from India who moved to the UK in the 1960s, he has since lived and worked in 17 countries and donated more than £5 million to charity.

As founder of ebookers, Dinesh created the first internet travel company in the UK and Europe, which achieved FTSE 250 status on the London Stock Exchange. After an initial investment of $5 million, Dinesh sold the business for $471 million in 2005, since when he has devoted his time to politics, charity work, and a new business in green energy.

From 2019 to 2020, Dinesh represented London for the Liberal Democrats at the European Parliament and served as President of the India Desk for the European Union. He left the European Parliament as a result of Brexit and is now an active advocate for a trade deal between the UK and India that could create hundreds of thousands of jobs in both countries.

As... Dinesh Dhamija is a British Indian entrepreneur, author, politician and philanthropist who made his name as the founder of online travel agency ebookers and is now at the forefront of negotiations on a UK India trade deal. A first-generation immigrant from India who moved to the UK in the 1960s, he has since lived and worked in 17 countries and donated more than £5 million to charity.

As founder of ebookers, Dinesh created the first internet travel company in the UK and Europe, which achieved FTSE 250 status on the London Stock Exchange. After an initial investment of $5 million, Dinesh sold the business for $471 million in 2005, since when he has devoted his time to politics, charity work, and a new business in green energy.

From 2019 to 2020, Dinesh represented London for the Liberal Democrats at the European Parliament and served as President of the India Desk for the European Union. He left the European Parliament as a result of Brexit and is now an active advocate for a trade deal between the UK and India that could create hundreds of thousands of jobs in both countries.

As founder and chairman of Copper Beech, Dinesh also manages investments in sustainable projects in Europe and India, including creating the biggest solar and hydrogen energy companies in Romania.

In his charity work, Dinesh is the founder of two India-based NGOs: Shiksha and Chikitsa. He is also a supporter and trustee of several charities including the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Scope and the LEPRA Society.

Born in Australia as the son of an Indian diplomat, Dinesh grew up in India, Mauritius, Afghanistan, Czechoslovakia and the Netherlands before attending Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he attained an MA in Law. His autobiography, Book It!, tells the story of his journey to earning a £100 million fortune. His second book, The Indian Century, looks forward to the trade opportunities India represents for the UK. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Dinesh Dhamija’s Newsfeed

Eastern Eye

Great time for Britain to join Indian growth gravy train, say business leaders

Dinesh Dhamija’s Background

Copper Beech Group

Founder & Chairman

2006 - Present

Copper Beech Group manages investments in sustainable projects in Europe and India. The company is currently involved in running the biggest solar and hydrogen energy companies in Romania.

ebookers.com

Founder, Chairman and CEO

1999 - 2005

ebookers.com was the first internet travel company in the UK and Europe and went on to achieve FTSE 250 status on the London Stock Exchange. The firm grew rapidly and ultimately created 2,000 jobs, achieving sales of more than $1 billion with offices in 12 European countries. After an initial investment of $5 million, Dinesh sold ebookers.com for $471 million in 2005.

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Philanthropy

The Dinesh Dhamija Fellowships

Donor

Cambridge, UK

Dinesh Dhamija has funded three Fellowships in his name at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge.

1869 Fellow Benefactor, Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge

Cambridge, UK

In recognition of Dinesh's generous funding of three Fellowships, Fitzwilliam College appointed Dinesh Dhamija an 1869 Fellow Benefactor, only the fifth in the college’s history. 1869 Fellow Benefactors become Companions of the Guild of Cambridge Benefactors, and enjoy all the benefits of an Honorary Fellow.

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Media

India: A Story in the Making

Video interview

Jun 2024

International filmmaker and journalist, Loveena Tandon, talks to Dinesh as part of her podcast series ‘India: A Story in the Making’.

Finito World

Contributor

Dinesh Dhamija is a regular contributor to Finito World. Click on the link to read his blog posts: The importance of a UK India trade deal, why Modi is big in Japan, and Dinesh’s reaction to Rishi Sunak’s appointment as PM.

Interviews

The Mohua Show: Business to Politics & UK-India Relations with Dinesh Dhamija

Video interview

May 2024

Dinesh talks to author, podcaster, voice-over artist and branding specialist, Mohua Chinappa, and shares insights from his book, "The Indian Century," discussing India's growing global influence. The episode touches on the complexities of India-UK trade negotiations, the significance of skilled immigration for the UK, and the role of returning business capital to India's economy.

“The renewable energy market is still very young; you can make a lot of money if you enter now”

Interviewee

Mar 2024

Dinesh Dhamija is interviewed by The Diplomat, Bucharest and discusses Copper Beech Urban Development's plans for the Romanian energy market.

Features

Dinesh Dhamija’s path to fame and fortune

Nov 2021

Dinesh was featured in Eastern Eye newspaper in an article that talks about his successful career and his autobiography, Book It!

Publications

Where the World Moves

Author

Dec 2024

In his third book, Where the World Moves, Dinesh Dhamija argues that, far from threatening and impoverishing countries’ economies, migrants objectively improve the economic and cultural life of host nations.

The Indian Century

Author

Feb 2024

Published by Finito.

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Awards & Recognition

Management Today

Winner, Entrepreneur of the Year Award

2003

London, UK

Public Service

Liberal Democrats

Member

2014 - Present

Dinesh joined the UK's LIberal Democrats in 2014 and served first as a Business Adviser, and then as Deputy Treasurer of the party.

European Parliament

Member of the European Parliament (MEP)

May 2019 - Dec 2020

Strasbourg, FR

Dinesh Dhamija represented London in the European Parliament for the UK's Liberal Democrats. He served as President of the India Desk for the European Union and chaired the EU’s India delegation. He was actively involved in trade talks before leaving the European Parliament as a result of Brexit.

Speaking Engagements

Why The UK-India Relationship Matters? Opportunities For The Financial Centre Of The World

Speaker

May 2024

As part of the 695th Lord Mayor's Lectures, Dinesh Dhamija examines the reasons why India will dominate the 21st Century, just as Great Britain dominated the 19th century and the United States the 20th.

Dinesh Dhamija

Keynote Speaker

Dinesh Dhamija is much sought after as a speaker for his views on business and trade, and contributes strategic insight to key issues such as entrepreneurship, and the pressing need for a British India trade deal.

Charitable Interests

Winston Churchill Memorial Trust

Supporter

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (now known as The Churchill Fellowship) is a UK charity that was founded by public donation in 1965 as the living legacy of Sir Winston Churchill. The charity offers UK citizens the opportunity to discover new ideas and best practices from around the world, and to implement those ideas in the UK.

Scope

Supporter

Scope is the disability equality charity in England and Wales. The charity campaigns to create a more equal and fairer society and provides practical information and support.

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Mentoring

TiE Global

Vice Chair, Global Board

Jan 2018 - Dec 2022

The Indus Entrepreneurs (or TiE) was founded by senior executives with roots in the Indus region to foster entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, education, funding and incubation.