William Felix Browder, an American-born British financier and political activist, serves as the CEO and co-founder of Hermitage Capital Management, the investment advisor to the Hermitage Fund, which at its peak was the largest foreign portfolio investor in Russia, with a significant presence in the country's financial landscape.
His primary investment strategy, which garnered significant attention, was shareholder rights activism, where he targeted large Russian companies such as Gazprom, Surgutneftegaz, Unified Energy Systems, and Sidanco, advocating for improved corporate governance and transparency.
However, his efforts did not go unnoticed, and Browder faced severe repercussions. On November 13, 2005, he was refused entry to Russia, deported to the UK, and declared a threat to Russian national security, marking a significant turning point in his career as a financier and political activist.
