An Interview With…Charles Douglas
In the latest instalment of our interview series, I chatted with Charles Douglas, who joined Origin in July 2021 as a Business Development Analyst.
Charles and I covered an eclectic range of subjects, including hybrid working, the importance of listening to clients and their needs, the role that sport plays in his life, London’s quirkiest pubs, and the raw beauty of Cap-Ferret.
We hope you find this series interesting. If you like the sound of the work we’re doing here at Origin and want to be a part of it, please drop us an email.
An interview with... Charles Douglas
Work
Tell us a little bit about your journey into the fintech industry. How did your internships in traditional finance impact on your decision to join Origin?
I almost landed in fintech by chance, as I initially wanted to work in “regular” finance, i.e. banks or hedge funds. My journey (one year on the 19th July) has been hugely educational, whilst also being challenging. Working for a large bank, you have whole departments doing some tasks, whereas in a startup you quickly have to learn how to be a master of many things. But experience in regular finance has helped me massively in my endeavours to acquire new clients for the firm.
Why did you choose a young company like Origin over joining a larger, more established financial institution?
Choosing a small company/start-up was a no-brainer, once I realised I wanted the opportunity to manage my own clients and have more responsibility.
What have you been working on since you joined the business?
In my first year at Origin I have been tasked with looking after existing clients, mostly in France, and searching for new clients Europe-wide. My role requires me to listen to clients and their needs. Business Development is the customer-facing part of the business, so we have to understand our product, our clients’ needs, and the markets in which we operate.
What’s something exciting you’re working on right now?
We’re currently looking to expand our business, and a fascinating part of my role is understanding the appetite in the market and how we can work with our counterparties to further Origin’s footprint and influence. I’m also going to be taking more responsibility in the coverage of our French clients and working more closely with counterparties in the UK.
You joined Origin shortly after the worst of the pandemic subsided in the UK. What’s your take on remote working versus the office now that the world is normalising? Do you prefer working from home, in the office or a bit of both?
I don’t believe in purely working from home. In our industry, face-to-face interaction is essential for creating connections with clients. At Origin we work two days from home and three days in the office, hence affording us the opportunity to enjoy hybrid working. Furthermore, we have the ability to work from home/abroad two months of the year, and this lets us spend more time with friends and family.
Play
Sport is clearly an important part of your life. Which sports are your favourites? Any memories that stand out from your experiences playing and watching sport?
Sport has always been a key part of my life, and will remain important the older I get. I have played many different sports. Having the opportunity to go to Ampleforth College meant that I was blessed to be able to play football, rugby, tennis, and cricket. Now I mostly play football with friends and more importantly, with Origin, as we have a weekly league.
I watch an abundance of sports now, football on Saturday, F1 on Sunday, Arsenal on Thursday and cricket for five days at the time. One of my favourite sporting memories was watching Ben Stokes rescue us at the miracle of Headingley, especially as my neighbours are Australians!
London, Hong Kong, Paris.. You have experienced different cultures throughout South East Asia and Europe. In your view, which city offers the best quality of life, and why?
I thoroughly enjoyed my childhood and having the opportunity to live in a multitude of cultures and cities. London has always been one of my favourites and now I believe it is the best place to live, irrespective of your age. The city offers great opportunities culturally and professionally. It remains the financial capital of Europe and is as multicultural as ever.
Which is your favourite pub in London?
These are the tough questions we all face on a daily basis! What pub to go to? Where can I get a good pint with a good atmosphere? What’s the food like? I always found that finding your favourite pub depends on your mood.
I would say we are blessed at Origin to have one of the best Irish pubs in London next to our office in the form of Mc & Sons. They serve fantastic Guinness with even better Thai food. Highly recommended.
If you are looking for a more entertaining place on a Thursday night (typically full of European bankers) then the Anglesea Arms is the pub for you. However, be ready to wait 30 minutes for a pint. I recommend ordering 3 pints at a time!
Looking for a cheap and authentic pint around London can be difficult but one pub can be found in the unlikeliest place of all – Knightsbridge. Tucked away in a mews, you can find the Nags Head. No food is served here, only drinks (no cocktails) and crisps. This is truly an authentic pub, compared to the glitzy places around the corners. Only two rules at the Nags Head; no phone, and hang your coat. This has to be a truly magical place in a world of ever more connectivity.
Notting Hill is one of my favourite parts of London and also home. Recently there has been a resurgence of great pubs there along older established pubs. One of my favourite pubs in Notting Hill is the newly opened Pelican. They have managed to preserve the authenticity of a London pub and not look like another Wetherspoon. This is the type of place you can bump into Margot Robbie and Rami Malek.
Staying over Notting Hill, the Ladbroke Arms offer the perfect combination of good alcohol and delicious food. It was my local when I moved back to London and remains one of my favourites to this day. It is always busy, but thankfully they don't take bookings outside. This is the ideal place if you want a good mid-week meal with friends or colleagues.
Now crossing Holland Park and going to the Windsor Castle, one of the oldest pubs around London, the Windsor Castle has been around for so long that there are still little doorways in the pub. The pub has changed throughout the years and now it boasts one of the nicest beer gardens in Notting Hill. This is the perfect way to enjoy a Sunday roast with a nice glass of wine in the beautiful London sunshine.
What’s your favourite place – maybe a city, a restaurant, a bar, a beach – in the world and why?
My favourite place is Cap-Ferret on the south-west coast of France, located an hour away from Bordeaux. I have been there for over 20 years and we are fortunate enough to have a family house there.
It is such a relaxing place, where you are blessed to have the Atlantic ocean on one side and the Bassin D’Arcachon on the other. In the morning, you go to the local market, where everything is authentic and great quality. Throughout the day you enjoy the beautiful beach and drifting in the evening you enjoy lovely “apero” playing some petanque.
It is truly a magical place!
Describe a typical weekend for you.
It’s hard to describe what a typical weekend is for me, as no two weekends are the same. I think the key to a good weekend is your ability to disconnect from work and not overthink “weekday” problems. Weekends are a good opportunity to catch up on sleep, sport, and loved ones.
My weekends are a mixture of seeing friends and family, exploring new restaurants in London with my girlfriend, and enjoying some weekend sport.
