© Mendocino Brewing Company
Directors and Officers
Dr. Vijay Mallya -
Dr. Vijay Mallya, Ph.D., became the Company’s Chairman of the Board in October 1997 and was MBC’s Chief Executive Officer until January 2005. Dr. Mallya is a well known industrialist and the Chairman of UBICS, Inc., United Breweries Limited, United Spirits Limited, Whyte & Makay Limited, United Breweries (Holdings) Limited (which is the indirect beneficial owner of two of MBC’s largest shareholders (United Breweries of America, Inc. and Inversiones Mirabel S.A.), Kingfisher Airlines Limited, UB Engineering Limited, Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd., and other affiliated companies (collectively the “UB Group”). The UB Group is comprised of businesses in the following sectors: alcoholic beverages, life sciences, engineering, agrochemicals, information technology, fertilizers, print media, civil aviation and infrastructure development. United Breweries Limited and United Spirits Limited are two of Asia’s leading beer and spirits companies.
Dr. Mallya is also a keen sportsman and an ardent aviator and yachtsman. Dr. Mallya and certain companies with which he is associated provide financial and other support for several sporting activities worldwide, including the Force India F1 Formula One Motor Racing Team, the United East Bengal Football Team and the United Mohun Bagan Football Team.
He also sits on the boards and committees of several foreign companies and organizations including companies comprising the UB Group, The Institute of Economic Studies (India), the Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Motorsports Association of India. Dr. Mallya has been the recipient of many prestigious awards and accolades, including being nominated to the Global Leaders of Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum, receiving the Légion d’ Honneur from the Government of France in 2008 and the Outstanding Business Leader Award from the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India in 2009.
Dr. Mallya is currently serving as a member of the Upper House of the Indian Parliament for the second time. Dr. Mallya holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calcutta in India and an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from California Southern University, Santa Ana.
Dr. Mallya’s knowledge and expertise in the global alcoholic beverage industry were significant in his selection as a member of the Board as well as his appointment as Chairman of the Board.
H. Michael Laybourn -
Mr. H. Michael Laybourn, co-
Mr. Laybourn is a former Vice President of the California Small Brewers Association and a former Chairman of the board of directors of the Brewers Association of America. Mr. Laybourn holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Arizona State University.
Mr. Laybourn’s expertise in craft brewing, in particular, led to his selection as a member of the Board.
Mr. Kent D. Price became a director in January 1998. Kent Price is a founder and President of Parker Price Venture Capital. Mr. Price was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, attended the University of Montana, the University of California, Los Angeles and Harvard Business School. Mr. Price is a member of the board of directors of the University of Montana and served on its Foundation and Investment Committee.
Mr. Price is the chairman of Fluid Inc., a technology enhanced service company that is a leader in the development of eCommerce sites. Mr. Price has extensive operational experience, including as Chief Executive Officer of The Chloride Group, a global battery company, Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of San Francisco, General Manager of Banking, Finance and Securities Group at IBM, Chief Financial Officer at the Bank of New England, Executive Vice President of the Bank of America and a senior officer at Citibank.
He has lived and worked in England, Germany, Ireland, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore as well as the United States. He has served on various boards of directors of companies based in the UK, India, South Africa, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and the United States. Mr. Price served on the board of directors of UBICS (a NASDAQ listed company). Mr. Price served as a Captain in the United States Air Force.
Mr. Price’s banking and financial expertise was important in his selection as a member of the Board.
Mr. Sury Rao Palamand became a director of MBC in January 1998. Dr. Palamand is a director and partner of Summit Products, Inc., a beverage development and consulting company serving the food and beverage industry. He is also a director and partner in the Historic Lemp Brewery and is involved in the development of microbreweries and brewpubs, and in the restoration of historic buildings. Dr. Palamand has over 40 years of experience in the brewing industry and has published numerous scientific and technical papers on beer and other fermented beverages in various technical journals in the United States and abroad. He is an associate member of the Institute of Brewing, London and is a member of several brewing organizations in the United States.
In addition, Dr. Palamand possesses technical and technological expertise in wine making as well as in the development of soft drinks. Prior to joining the Company as a director, Dr. Palamand served as Director of Beer and New Beverage Development at Anheuser-
Dr. Palamand is listed in the MARQUIS WHO’S WHO in America and in the WHO’S WHO in the Midwest. In particular, Mr. Palamand’s technical expertise in fermented beverages was an important criteria in his selection as a member of the Board.
Mr. Scott Heldfond joined the Board in January 2005. He was a Director of NASDAQ Insurance Group, LLC, a national insurance brokerage and consulting firm owned by the NASDAQ Stock Market prior to the firm’s sale to Aon Risk Services in 2009. Mr. Heldfond currently services as a Director at Aon Risk Services. Mr. Heldfond has also served as the Managing Partner of eSEED Capital, LLC, a technology-
He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Frank Crystal & Co. of California, a New York-
Mr. Heldfond also previously served as a Director of HomeGain, Inc. (later sold to Classified Ventures), a private, venture backed company, and currently serves as a Director of UBICS Inc., a NASDAQ traded firm that provides information technology staffing and solutions for domestic and international businesses. Mr. Heldfond also served as a Director of Galoob Toys, which was the third largest toy manufacturer before its sale to Hasbro.
Mr. Heldfond holds an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco Law School. He is a Mayoral appointed Commissioner of the Health Services Commission of the City and County of San Francisco. In addition, he serves as an advisor to or on the board of directors of a number of local, statewide, and national charitable and community service organizations. Mr. Heldfond is the retired Honorary Consul General to the United States for the Republic of Rwanda.
Mr. Heldfond’s expertise in risk management and insurance matters, in particular, led to his selection as a member of the Board.
Mr. Jerome G. Merchant became a Director of the Company in October 1997 and was Chief Financial Officer of the Company from November 1997 to October 1998. Mr. Merchant served as the Strategic Planning Consultant to the Chairman’s Office of the Company from July 1996 until January 2007. Mr. Merchant is a Managing Director with Kinetic Advisors, LLC, a boutique mid-
He has over 20 years of experience in investment banking and capital raising transactions. Previously, he held executive positions at McGladrey Capital Markets, Citigroup and MetLife Investors. Mr. Merchant has advised the investment division and clients of Citibank and Smith Barney, amongst others. In executive and strategic planning capacities, he has advised public and private companies and institutional and high-
Between April 1993 and December 2003, Mr. Merchant served in various senior capacities for Cal Fed Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cal Fed Bank. Previously, Mr. Merchant directed the west coast capital raising for a private equity group focused on equity oriented management buyouts and strategic acquisitions.
He received his B.S. degree in Managerial Economics-
Mr. Joseph Cannata joined the Board in August 2015. He is currently Executive Vice President of Sales & Distribution at Rockstar Energy Drink. He was part of the original launch team. He also managed Rockstar’s on-
He oversees all National Chain Accounts for Rockstar and manages an Executive Team of 14 direct reports and full national team of 150+ sales reps throughout the USA & Canada. In his position he is the liaison and primary contact between Rockstar Inc. and Executive level Pepsi and Independent Distributor personnel.
Mr. Cannata is a native of San Francisco. He attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory and Saint Mary’s College of Moraga where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Mr. Cannata’s expertise in beverage sales and distribution, led to his selection as a member of the Board.
Yashpal Singh: President and CEO
Mr. Yashpal Singh became a director of MBC in October 1997 and served as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer beginning in April 1998. Mr. Singh became the Company’s President in January 2000 and its Chief Executive Officer in January 2005. From May 1997 to March 1998, Mr. Singh served as Executive Vice-
Between 1964 and 1990, Mr. Singh served in various capacities including as Head Brewer and Chief Executive Officer of a large alcoholic beverage corporation in India. Between 1990 and 1997, Mr. Singh also served as Senior Vice President-
Mr. Singh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science from Punjab University in India, a Diploma in Brewing from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in London and has extensive training in the fields of Brewing, Malting, and Mineral Water Technology. Mr. Singh is an Associate member of the Institute of Brewing, London, a member of the Master Brewers Association of America, and was a former executive member of the Managing Committee of the All India Brewer’s Association. Mr. Singh has over 48 years of varied experience in the brewing industry.
Mr. Singh’s long standing technical and management expertise in brewing led to his selection as a member of the Board.
Mahadevan Narayanan: Secretary and CFO
Mr. Mahadevan Narayanan joined the company in 2001 as Secretary and Chief Financial Officer. Before joining the Company, he served the UB Group (including affiliates of the Company) in India for 17 years as part of the management team in various financial and accounting capacities. Immediately prior to joining the Company, Mahadevan Narayanan was employed as Senior Manager of Accounting Services of Herbertsons Ltd. for six years.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Madurai Kamaraj University in India and is an Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
