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Board of Directors

Scott Mathis

Scott Mathis
Chairman & CEO

Peter Lawrence

Peter Lawrence
Director

Reuben Cannon

Reuben Cannon
Director

Phone: 212.739.7700
smathis@gauchoholdings.com

Scott Mathis is an entrepreneur and an accomplished senior executive who, with over 25 years in the financial industry, has extensive experience in investment and management in Argentina’s real estate development, hospitality and wine sectors.  He is the Founder & CEO of Gaucho Group Holdings, INC. (“Gaucho Holdings”), a New York City based venture capital and real estate development firm with affiliate offices in Buenos Aires, and Mendoza.  Building a luxury brand using Algodon Fine Wines as its ambassador, Gaucho Holdings identifies and develops hotel, hospitality and other lifestyle properties, as well as opportunities and brands that fit within its proprietary Gaucho brands; one of distinction, refinement, and elegance. The qualities of the Gaucho Holdings brand are exemplified by sophisticated cultural pastimes such as the appreciation of fine wine and the pursuits of golf, tennis, polo, and wellness. Algodon's current real estate developments include a Buenos Aires luxury boutique hotel, Algodon Mansion, located in the city's most elegant residential neighborhood of Recoleta, as well as the Mendoza wine resort called Algodon Wine Estates, a 4,138 acre luxury vineyard estate located in San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina.  Mr. Mathis is also the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Hollywood Burger™, a “Fresh Food, Fast!” restaurant concept currently operational in the U.S.

Mr. Mathis received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Mississippi State University, and also served in the Mississippi Air National Guard. He began his career at Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith, and was a partner at Oppenheimer and Company. Mr. Mathis also served as a Senior Vice President and member of the Directors Council at Lehman Brothers, and has worked with Alex Brown and Sons, and The Boston Group. No stranger to building a business from the ground up, he was responsible for the management of the Palm Beach, Florida office of Gruntal and Company, Inc.  Mr. Mathis has served on numerous corporate boards including The Vaccine Company, Kinexis Inc., AmpliMed Inc., Hollywood Burger Holdings, and Algodon Group and its subsidiaries.

 

Mr. Lawrence has served on the Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. Board of Directors since 1999. Mr. Lawrence served as the Chairman of Associated British Industries plc, a company that manufactured sealants and jointings for car engines, as well as aviation jointings and sealants (for both original equipment manufacturers and aftermarkets), specialty waxes and anti-corrosion coatings for the automotive tire, and plastics industries. The company was acquired for £40 million by AlliedSignal Corp in 1995. Mr. Lawrence has also served as a director of the Close Beacon Fund OEIC since its founding in 1994. Beacon invests in small and recently floated companies on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. Over the last several years, Mr. Lawrence has participated in numerous start-up and entrepreneurial ventures, both as an investor and as a member of the companies' Board of Directors or Board of Advisors. Mr. Lawrence received a B.A. in Modern History from Oxford University where he graduated with honors.

Reuben Cannon is a producer who has helped shape and guide some of the most critically acclaimed film and television projects in Hollywood during the past 30 years. Reuben Cannon and Associates has cast nearly one hundred television series and films. Projects include “The Color Purple” (11 Oscar nominations), “Columbo,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “The A Team,” the 1990’s remake of “Perry Mason”, the Emmy-Award winning comedy series “The Bernie Mac Show,” “My Wife and Kids,” and “Boondocks.” Producing credits include “The Women of Brewster Place” and “Brewster Place” (in collaboration with Oprah Winfrey), “Down in the Delta” (directed by Dr. Maya Angelou), and “Get on the Bus” (with Spike Lee). In 2004, Mr. Cannon formed a production alliance with Tyler Perry Studios and is currently Executive Producer for Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne.” In addition to two Emmy nominations, he has received numerous awards including an Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters from Morehouse College, and the “Behind the Lens Award” for outstanding contributions in entertainment in the areas of film and television.

A. William Allen

A. William Allen
Director

Marc Dumont

Marc Dumont
Director

From 2005 to 2009, Mr. Allen was the CEO of Bloomin' Brands (and served as Chairman of its Board from 2009 to 2011). Mr. Allen managed Bloomin' Brands' $3.9 billion take-private successful initiative in 2007, sponsored by private equity firms L Catterton and Bain Capital, which occurred during his tenure. In 1998, Mr. Allen led the development of Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, which he co-founded with famed restauranteur Paul Fleming, the co-founder of the P.F. Chang's restaurant group. Messrs. Allen and Fleming later sold the company to Bloomin' Brands for a majority stake in 2004. Mr. Allen was the President and CEO of La Madeleine French Bakery and Café before co-founding the highly successful Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar brand. Mr. Allen started his career working for The Marriott Corporation and Restaurant Enterprises Group, has extensive hospitality-related experience, and is considered to one of the most respected figures in the hospitality industry. Mr. Allen is a value-added investor, advisor, and board member for several developed and early-stage growth food service companies.

Marc Dumont is an independent international financial consultant and advisor for clients in Europe and Asia, as well as the United States. He is owner and Chairman of wine producer Chateau de Messey Wineries in Burgundy, France, a position he has held since March 1995. He served as the President CEO of PSA International SA (a PSA Peugeot Citroen Group company) from January 1981 to March 1995. Prior to that, he served as Treasurer and Finance Director of Finagrain in Geneva, the international merchandising center for Continental Grain Company. Earlier, he held various positions for Chrysler Corporation in Detroit, Mexico City and London. He is Chairman of Sanderling Ventures (European affiliate of a U.S. venture capital firm), a position he’s held since 1996. He is also serving on the Board of Directors of SenesTech (SNES) in Phoenix, AZ since 2016. In the past, Mr. Dumont served as director of Finter Bank Zurich, Banque Internationale in Luxembourg, Irvine Sensors Corporation in Costa Mesa, CA, where he was member/Chairman of their Audit, Nominating, and Corporate Governance, and Compensation Committees. Mr. Dumont holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and in Economics from the University of Louvain, Belgium and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Executives & Leadership

Maria Echevarria

Maria Echevarria
Chief Financial Officer

Keith T. Fasano

Keith T. Fasano
Ambassador - Senior Managing Director

Christian Ferzola

Christian Ferzola
Strategy & Business Development

Phone: 212.739.7668
Fax: 212.655.3681
mechevarria@gauchoholdings.com

Maria Echevarria has over 15 years of experience in Accounting, Compliance, Finance, Information Systems and Operations.  Her management positions include 10 years in the banking industry where she specialized in Mortgage Quality Control, Compliance, Financial Analysis and Mortgage Accounting.  Operating in a highly regulated industry, Mrs. Echevarria was surrounded very early in her career with compliance requirements from public and private sectors; she has significant experience dealing directly with agencies such as FHA, VA and other mortgage guarantors. Mrs. Echevarria also ran programs to test adherence to Investor requirements related to reporting, remittances, escrow accounting and default management for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and other Private Investors. She has coordinated all types of audits, regulatory and financial, and assisted the Division Heads in the determination of remediation measures and also the implementation of such measures.   Her experience includes SEC reporting and financial analysis, and her career accomplishments include developing and implementing major initiatives such as SOX, BSA and AML reporting and valuation of financial instruments.  Mrs. Echevarria also served 5 years in Senior Level Management overseeing Finance, Information Systems and Operations for two non-profit organizations. Throughout her various accounting and financial positions, Mrs. Echevarria developed a strong expertise in preparing financial reports, coordinating budgets and projections, preparing financial presentations and analyzing financial data.   She has developed and taught accounting courses for Herzing University, and serves as an adjunct faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University.  She is a CPA, licensed in New Jersey and Puerto Rico, and holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Puerto Rico and a MBA in Business from University of Phoenix.  Mrs. Echevarria was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and is fluent in Spanish and English.  She joined Algodon Group in June 2014 as the Corporate Controller with primary responsibility for corporate consolidation, policies and procedures and creating various SEC filing reports.   She has also developed a positive and interactive relationship and respect with Algodon’s global operations in Argentina.

kfasano@gauchoholdings.com

With over 20 years' experience in business, he has served in an investment capacity with our broker-dealer since 2001, as the Chief Compliance Officer of our broker-dealer for more than 4 years, and as a Managing Director of Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. for more than 13 years.  His responsibilities include development and sales of Gaucho Group’s luxury brand, Algodon Fine Wines, vineyards, luxury homesites and real estate. Mr. Fasano is also one of the founders and a Managing Director of Hollywood Burger, a “Fresh Food, Fast!” restaurant concept currently operational in the U.S. and Argentina. Prior to joining Algodon, he was employed at Gilford Securities, Whale Securities, and Lehman Brothers.  Mr. Fasano holds a BA in Economics from Rutgers University. He coaches girls' soccer, and enjoys playing golf in his spare time. Mr. Fasano lives in New Jersey with his wife and 3 daughters.

Phone: 516.578.8068
cferzola@gauchoholdings.com

Christian works closely with the CEO and Managing Directors to market, source, develop and curate products, and potential partnerships for Gaucho Group's luxury fashion & leather accessories brand: Gaucho – Buenos Aires. This platform serves as a portal to purchase your piece of Argentine luxury. Gaucho – Buenos Aires is a new luxury fashion and accessories brand that is the result of more than a decade's investment in Argentina's heart and soul. Gaucho’s luxury branded assets have come to be associated with the country's finest experiences through award-winning wines and exceptional luxury destinations. Now with Gaucho – Buenos Aires, Gaucho Group Holdings ,INC. adds a high-end fashion and accessories e-commerce sector to its collection of luxury assets, connecting buyers with some of Argentina’s best creative talents that harness the country’s unique heritage and artisan-ship of products such as woven fabrics, leather goods and precious metal jewelry.

Mr. Ferzola holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from New York University. He is also a benefactor of The Tsavo and North Rangelands Trusts, both of which work to preserve and maintain Africa’s wildlife and natural landscape. When he is not working, Christian enjoys skiing, cooking and golf.

Gregory Gassoso

Gregory Gassoso
Ambassador - Senior Managing Director, Real Estate Development

Vincent J. Maritato

Vincent J. Maritato
Ambassador - Business Development

Eric Stear

Eric Stear
Ambassador - Director of Marketing

ggassoso@gauchoholdings.com

Mr. Gassoso is one of the Senior Managing Directors of Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc.  With over 20 years' experience in business, he has served in an investment capacity with our broker-dealer since 2001, and as a Senior Managing Director of Gaucho Group for more than 12 years.  His responsibilities include the development of Algodon’s Golf & Tennis Club amenities, as well as development and sales of Algodon's vineyards, luxury homesites and real estate.  Mr. Gassoso is also one of the founders of Hollywood Burger, a “Fresh Food, Fast!” restaurant concept currently operational in the U.S. and Argentina. He has over 17 years’ experience in the securities industry, and previously served as Senior Investment Advisor at National Securities.  He enjoys traveling in both his professional and personal life, which gives him the opportunity to meet most of his clients in person and establish long-lasting relationships.  He is an avid golfer and all-around sportsman, and in his spare time he enjoys coaching his son’s football and basketball teams.

vmaritato@algodongroup.com

Mr. Maritato is a founding partner of Gaucho Group Holdings, INC., and has over 20 years of experience in the finance industry. His responsibilities include sales and development of Algodon’s vineyards, luxury homesites and real estate.  Mr. Maritato is also one of the founders of Hollywood Burger, a “Fresh Food, Fast!” restaurant concept currently operational in the U.S. and Argentina. His entrepreneurial expertise includes seeking opportunities in private equity funding & venture capital for early stage startup companies.  His previous experience includes positions and achievements as Vice President and Senior Vice President for several boutique brokerage firms in New York City. Mr. Maritato attended the New York Institute of Finance, and graduated from Kingsborough College with an Associate's degree in Applied Science. When not at the office, Mr. Maritato enjoys playing golf, boating, and traveling.

Phone: 212.739.7669
rstear@gauchoholdings.com

Mr. Stear has over 15 years of experience in luxury brand development, business marketing and communications.  He has served with Gaucho Group since 2006, and is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing the Company’s marketing, branding, and corporate communications strategies and any related programs that support the Company’s vision, mission, culture, and business goals. He oversees all branding and brand development, marketing and advertising, website content, social media outlets, media relations, press releases, and general public relations activities for the Company, its subsidiaries and wholly owned businesses. He continues to play an essential role in successfully positioning Gaucho Group's portfolio within the high-end luxury sectors, and whose hospitality and fine wines have accordingly been honored with numerous international awards, top media coverage and accolades.  He also serves as Director of Marketing and is one of the founders of Hollywood Burger, a “Fresh Food, Fast!” restaurant concept currently operational in the U.S.  Mr. Stear holds a Digital Marketing Certification from CUNY Hunter College and received his BFA in Liberal Arts and Theatre from the University of North Carolina.

Brian J. Stern

Brian J. Stern
Ambassador - Senior Managing Director, Venture Capital

bstern@gauchoholdings.com

With over 13 years' experience in business, he has served in an investment capacity with our broker-dealer since 2002, and as a Managing Director of Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. he has spearheaded Algodon’s investment activity and growth for more than 8 years.  His responsibilities include development and sales of Gaucho Group’s luxury brand, wine, vineyards, luxury homesites and real estate.  Mr. Stern is also a Managing Director and one of the founders of Hollywood Burger, a “Fresh Food, Fast!” restaurant concept currently operational in the U.S. Early in his career, he spearheaded several startup entrepreneurial endeavors in the music, retail, printing, and painting industry. Mr. Stern continued with his entrepreneurial spirit in joining a small retail company, The Men’s Wearhouse, and held a 9 year management position, where his responsibilities included New Market Ventures and Client Relations. In that time, the company grew from just over 100 stores to roughly 500. Mr. Stern was instrumental in bringing the first stores into New York and successfully launched 5 stores before leaving. He is involved with the NFTE foundation, which teaches entrepreneurism and inspires young people from low-income communities to find their paths to success, the Humane Society, and the ASPCA. Mr. Stern attended Baruch College and New York University and has a BA in Finance and Economics. He has lived and studied abroad in Florence, Italy at the Lorenzo De Medici School of Arts and Sevilla, Spain at the Instituto Internacional de Negocios. He is conversational in Spanish, and in his free time he is an avid outdoorsman, enjoys playing golf and traveling.

Subsidiary & Affiliate Key Personnel

Maximiliano Ingerflom

Maximiliano Ingerflom
Algodon Brand Ambassador & Estate Sales

Gastón Langlois

Gastón Langlois
Executive Chef, Algodon Wine Estates

Sergio Manzur Odstrcil

Sergio Manzur Odstrcil
Chief Financial Officer &
Chief Operating Officer,
Algodon Wine Estates &
Algodon Mansion

Phone: + 54 11 3530 7777 (Int. 601)
mingerflom@algodongroup.com

Mr. Ingerflom plays a pivotal role in Algodon’s branding and sales strategy with particular focus on media and public relations, brand positioning, client relations and real estate sales.  His professional experience includes sales, administration and commercial management positions for companies in Argentina, United States and Norway.  He formerly served as Development Director for LATAM’s Unified Messaging System (a Norwegian company with a worldwide presence that develops Early Warning Systems), where he fostered fundamental relationships in the public and private sectors that spanned Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Costa Rica and Argentina. Prior to that, he served as  Commercial Manager and President´s Assistant for DETECT, one of Argentina most reputable security system providers.  He began his professional career in management at Internal Home Miami Corp, a wholesale patio furniture company that imports from Indonesia, Brazil and China, with nationwide distribution throughout the continental U.S.  Mr. Ingerflom received his Civil Engineering degree from Florida International University.  He was born in Buenos Aires, where he currently resides.

GLanglois@algodonwineestates.com

Mr. Langlois has served as Algodon Wine Estates’ Executive Chef since 2007, after moving to Mendoza “in search of the wine terroir”.  His past experience includes working as chef instructor of the Instituto de Gastronomía de Mendoza.  Mr. Langlois has also served in distinguished hotels and restaurants in Buenos Aires including the Four Seasons and La Bourgogne at the Alvear Palace Hotel.  The privilege of working by the side of eminent chefs has allowed Mr. Langlois to perfect traditional cooking techniques, and apply them to a modern Argentine-French signature cuisine.  Mr. Langlois has received training and attended special seminars to complete his education in Argentine regional cuisine, French cuisine, Haute gourmet cuisine and human resources in gastronomy.  He graduated from the Instituto Argentino de Gastronomía, Buenos Aires, with a degree as a Culinary Professional.

smanzur@algodonwineestates.com

Mr. Manzur Odstrcil is a Certified Public Accountant whose professional experience includes administration and management positions for companies in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Chile. As the CFO and COO for all of Gaucho Group’s Argentine subsidiaries, he is responsible for day-to-day management including financial planning and analysis, overseeing the implementation of financial strategies for the corporation, and for ensuring prudent corporate governance. Prior to joining us, Mr. Manzur Odstrcil was the Administration and Finance Director for Bodega Francois Lurton, where he also served as a member of the company’s executive committee. Previous to that, he held the position of Country Controller for the Boston Scientific Corporation (BSC) in Chile, and prior to that he served as Controller for Southern Cone BSC in Buenos Aires and also in Mexico City. He also served as Senior Financial Analyst for BSC’s Latin American Headquarters in Buenos Aires, as well as in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and prior to that he served as BSC’s Accountant Analyst in Buenos Aires. Mr. Manzur Odstrcil began his career at Cerveceria y Malteria Quilmes in Argentina. He obtained his MBA at INCAE in Costa Rica, and received his CPA from the Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina. He is married with three children, and resides in San Rafael.

Algodon Wine Team

Mauro Nosenzo

Mauro Nosenzo
Algodon Wine Estates, Winemaker

Anthony Foster

Anthony Foster
Algodon Wine Estates, Senior Wine Advisor

Jorge Alberto Arenas

Jorge Alberto Arenas
Algodon Wine Estates, Agronomical Engineer

mnosenzo@algodonwineestates.com

Mr. Nosenzo has served at Algodon Wine Estates since 2007, and as winemaker he determines the exact moment of each varietal's harvest. Additional significant responsibilities include managing the wine's elaboration process from the instant it has been handpicked up until it is bottled. In addition to production process and control, Mr. Nosenzo faithfully stays abreast of the newest technology, products and trends related to consumer tastes and demand.

Before joining Algodon Wine Estates, Mr. Nosenzo served as winemaker for the acclaimed Roca S.A. Winery, for over 12 years.

Mr. Nosenzo has a degree as a National Winemaker, as well as a Master's Degree in Business Management from the Business International School branch of Talca University of Chile.

Mr. Nosenzo frequently sits as a judge for various wine tasting competitions throughout Argentina. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, and regularly trains for marathons and "adventure races."

Anthony Foster has been in the wine trade for over thirty-eight years. In 1974, he became a Master of Wine, passing the most arduous four day tasting and theoretical qualification in the industry. In 1987 he was Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine and was largely responsible for making the qualification international.

He founded his own company, Bonhote Foster Limited, in 1975, and was bought out in 1981 by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries. He was subsequently made managing director of Christopher and Company, Royal Warrant holders. In 1986 Antinori in Florence sought him out and hired him to become managing director of their UK arm, Belloni. After Antinori sold their interest in Belloni in the early nineties, Mr. Foster continued to act as a consultant for various bodies on fruit selection and wine making techniques, as well as wine marketing in the UK and US. Amongst other projects, he researched and advised a number of Slovenian wine producers on how to market their wines in Europe. He created a Burgundy importing company in the US - Foster Flynt Selections - with DC Flynt MW. In 1998, Mr. Foster purchased Bonhote Foster Limited back from Scottish and Newcastle Breweries. In recent years, he has spent considerable time working with various wine investment groups.

Mr. Foster is an acknowledged wine taster. He judges around the world, most notably France, Italy, Australia and the UK. In France he has participated in a number of "Tastevinage" panels and in Italy he has been a frequent judge at the Banco d'Assagio in Perugia. In Australia he is one of a handful of international judges and he is frequently invited to judge in both Canberra and Hobart. In the UK, Anthony chairs a number of tasting panels for both the Wine Challenge and the Wine and Spirit Competition.

jarenas@algodonwineestates.com

Mr. Arenas has worked for the estate since 2001, when the project was still a just vision, and has played a significant role in its development into its current incarnation of Algodon Wine Estates. After settling permanently in San Rafael in 2000, Mr. Arenas served as President and consultant for CREA group. He began his career in Agronomy, within the agrochemical industry, by working at the Estancia los Reyunos of San Rafael from 1978 to 2000, where he was in charge of the cultivation of asparagus for the company ABC. Mr. Arenas studied at the Agronomy Department at the National University of Cuyo, where he received his degree. From a young age he complemented his studies by playing rugby, which gained him the respect and affection of the sporting community. Mr. Arenas first studied at the General Espejo Military Academy, and graduated with the rank of reserve Lieutenant. He was born and raised in the city of Mendoza, and enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, as well as playing golf when he can.

Patrick Dumont

Patrick Dumont
Business Advisor, Gaucho Holdings

Bernard Esquenet

Bernard Esquenet
Fine Wine Advisor, Gaucho Holdings

James Galtieri

James Galtieri
Algodon Wine Estates, Senior Wine Advisor

patrick.dumont@schiahorn.com

Patrick Dumont is the CEO and winemaker of Château de Messey, a family owned company in Burgundy, France, most notable for their outstanding Chardonnay.  He is a founding partner of Schiahorn AG wine imports and distributes Algodon Fine Wines in Switzerland, France and other parts of Europe.  He has more than 28 years of experience in the wine industry.  Prior to his current position, he served for 15 years with UBS Investment Bank where he headed the investment solution group for fixed income in Switzerland.  His career experience includes time spent within the hedge fund industry, which developed his interest in Private Equity and VC deals using his institutional network to raise capital. He began his career at JPMorgan in New York in security sales.  Mr. Dumont is a member of the Association for Investment Management and Research (AIMR), the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts (ICFA), and the Swiss Society of Investment Professionals (SSIP), and he is also co-founder and vice-president of a wakeboard club (CBWSS) in Geneva and Chevalier de Tastevin in Clos de Vougeot since 2004.

Mr. Esquenet serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Ruhof Corporation and the President of Chem-Clean Corporation, both of which are specialty chemical companies. He has served as Secretary of Leading Edge Packaging Inc. since January 1999, and is a Partner in BroadAsia LLC. Mr. Esquenet has been involved with these companies for several years, and has been involved in the manufacturing and international distribution of specialty chemicals for over 30 years. He also serves as a Member of the business advisory board of First of Long Island Corp. and The First National Bank of Long Island. He served as Director of Leading Edge Packaging Inc. since January 1999.  He was born and raised in Epernay, France, the heart of the French Champagne region, or as he personally likes to refer to as the ”Capital du Champagne”.

Phone: 516-802-4785
jgaltieri@seaviewimports.com

Mr. Galtieri specializes in corporate management in the Wine & Spirit Industry, and has a considerable background and experience in wine knowledge and wine market dynamics.  His experience includes 25 years as a wine importer and distributor, and 15 years as a successful fine wine & spirit retailer.  He is the current President/CEO at Seaview Imports LLC., a national wine importer (based in New York) covering the U.S. market with high-quality, exclusive wine brands of notable repute.  He previously served as Founding Partner and President/CEO of Pasternak Wine Imports, a renowned national wine importer and distributor, founded in 1988 in partnership with Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). 

Mr. Galtieri’s professional associations include, Commanderie du Bontemps de Medoc et Graves (Commandeur d’Honneur, 1998), Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs (Chevalier, 1990), Hofstra University (Adjunct Professor “Advanced Wine Studies”, 1975- 1985), Special Advisor to Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) – 2012 to present).

Business Advisors

Amrita Bhalla

Amrita Bhalla
Business Advisor, Gaucho Holdings

Doug Casey

Doug Casey
Lead Business Advisor - Argentina Investments

Matteo Cecchetto

Matteo Cecchetto
Business Advisor, Gaucho Holdings

Amrita Bhalla is an experienced global HR executive with a distinguished career spanning over two decades. As the Founder and Managing Director of A.B. Consulting, established in 2015, Amrita leads a thriving consultancy that specializes in HR advisory services. Her expertise lies in empowering organizations to enhance performance, drive employee engagement, and boost profitability. A.B. Consulting has made a significant global impact, catering to a diverse clientele across various sectors, with a particular focus on workforce development and leadership initiatives in the Caribbean region (www.a-bconsulting.com).

Amrita's remarkable journey in the luxury hospitality industry has seen her holding executive HR roles with renowned companies such as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, and Belmond Hotels. Throughout her career, she has traversed the globe, living and working in Canada, Bermuda, United Kingdom, Thailand, and India, gaining invaluable global insights.

A firm believer in strategic leadership and effective governance, Amrita actively serves on several boards, contributing her expertise to shape the success of various organizations. Notable board positions she currently holds include the role of Board President for the Rosedale Moore Park Association (RMPA) in Toronto, Canada. She is also a Board Member for the Caribbean Hospitality and Tourism Association Education Fund (CHTAEF), and Advisory Board Member for Women in Tourism and Hospitality Canada (With.org).

Amrita also shares her knowledge and passion for the industry with future leaders. Since 2015, she has been a valuable faculty member at the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism, Toronto Metropolitan University, teaching Human Resources Management, Strategic Management and Organizational Behaviour.

Amrita's academic qualifications complement her extensive professional experience. She holds a Masters in Industrial Relations (MIR) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queens University, Canada.

Doug Casey is a world-renowned investor and author of six books; his “Crisis Investing” was on the New York Times bestseller list for 29 weeks, including 11 weeks at #1. His third book, Strategic Investing, reached #7 on the NYT list. His most recent books are “Totally Incorrect” and “Right on the Money.” He’s currently completing a series of six novels; the first, “Speculator” is soon to be released.

He has been a featured guest on hundreds of radio and TV shows, including David Letterman, Merv Griffin, Charlie Rose, Phil Donahue, Regis Philbin, Maury Povich, NBC News and CNN, and has been the topic of numerous features in periodicals such as Time, Forbes, People and the Washington Post. He is also the founder of the Eris Society, a non-profit organization that for 30 years brought together hundreds of the world’s leading thinkers on a wide range of eclectic topics related to the arts, sciences, technology, finance and medicine. His firm, Casey Research, LLC, publishes a variety of publications and web sites with a combined weekly audience in excess of 300,000 individuals, largely high-net-worth investors with an interest in resource-development and international real estate. He can be reached at caseyresearch.com or internationalman.com.

Mr. Casey has visited over 145 countries, most of them several times, and has lived in ten. He has been active in polo, skydiving, martial arts, scuba, auto racing and competitive shooting. He lives mainly in Cafayate Argentina, Punta del Este Uruguay, and Aspen Colorado.

Mr. Cecchetto is a professional sommelier and wine consultant, who was born into the family wine business producing Valdobbiadene – Conegliano Prosecco in the North of Italy. He has served as Sommelier and Assistant Beverage Manager at Jumeirah Emirates Towers (2014 Business Traveler Award for Best Business Hotel in the Middle East) of the Jumeirah Group, a leader of Hospitality Businesses in the Middle East. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to collaborate, develop and launch the wine brand M&M Valdobbiadene Prosecco in his home country of Italy for the consumer markets of Italy, Europe, Africa and Russia. He also served as Corporate Sommelier for the beverage importer and exporter Villa Trading & Purchasing Company and their proprietary Villa Hotels in the Maldive Islands, where he was able to hone his skills in the hospitality business. He began his career at Bortolomiol S.P.A, an Italian winery and leader in the Prosecco market, where he spent over a decade having served in every department until his final position as Wine Tourism Business Developer. Mr. Cecchetto received his Professional Sommelier diploma from the Italian Sommelier Association, AIS (Associazione Italiana Sommelier) and his diploma in Tourist Management from ITST G. Mazzotti, and he continues to improve his knowledge daily by staying well-informed of market trends and developments. He is a contributor at www.wineatwine.com, and maintains the personal wine blog www.asacluster.wordpress.com. Sports, art, books and good wine along with music, are the passions of his life.

Stephen Falk, M.D.

Stephen Falk, M.D.
Business Advisor, Gaucho Holdings

Kye Hellmers

Kye Hellmers
Business Advisor, Gaucho Holdings

Michael Koh

Michael Koh
Business Advisor - Argentina Investments

Stephen Falk, M.D. is a board certified obstetrician/gynecologist with over 44 years in active private practice.  He founded, and is president of, a seven-member Ob/Gyn practice group in the greater Houston, Texas area.  He served as a major in the United States Air Force, overseeing a three-doctor group at Luke Air Force Base from 1970-1972.  He has served as chief of Ob/Gyn at both of the major hospitals in his practice area.  Dr. Falk is a distinguished Fellow of the American College of Ob/Gyn, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Fertility Society, American Society of Gynecological Laparoscopy, Texas Association of Ob/Gyn, Houston Gynecological and Obstetrical Society and the Harris County Medical Society.  Dr. Falk earned his medical degree at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons where he won the Ob/Gyn prize, and completed his 5-year internship and residency and chief residency at the Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center and medical school in New York City.  He received his Bachelor of Arts and graduated from Princeton University where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.  Dr. Falk spent a fellowship in GI research at the University of California, San Francisco, where he was exposed to the then fledgling California wine industry in 1962.  He has since maintained an active interest in oenology and has actively pursued and tasted wines in his travels throughout the world, most recently at Algodon Wine Estates in San Rafael, Mendoza, and Algodon Mansion in Buenos Aires.  He is an avid art, rare illustrated book, and watch collector, and plays the piano and travels the world over to enjoy music and opera.  He has two sons- an attorney in Houston, and a musician, budding scotch distiller in Jerusalem, Israel.

Kye Hellmers has over 36 years in the financial services industry. He was previously employed by the NASD (n/k/a FINRA) where he worked in various capacities in the self regulatory agency’s New York and Washington DC offices including positions as Supervisor and Assistant Director. Mr. Hellmers was eventually promoted to District Director of the Los Angeles District Office and later promoted to Vice President. He also served on the Direct Participation Programs Committee of the Board of Governors of the NASD, and he is currently a Member of the NASD Board of Arbitrators. Mr. Hellmers served as the Vice-Chairman and a limited partner of The Boston Group, L.P., a registered broker-dealer engaged in the investment banking and securities business, and also served as a member of the Advisory Board of InvestPrivate.com, Inc. He has held the following securities licenses: Registered Principal, Registered Representative, Financial and Operations Principal, Municipal Securities Principal and Options Principal. As a result of his extensive experience in the financial industry, Mr. Hellmers has been a frequent public speaker and has addressed meetings sponsored by such organizations as the SEC, NASD, SIA, NASAA, NRS, the Securities Industry Management Association, the Association of Western Securities Managers and the Security Traders Association of Los Angeles. He is a past member of the Security Traders Association of Los Angeles, the SIA, the California Association of Independent Broker-Dealers, the University Club of Los Angeles and the Stock Exchange Club of Los Angeles. He has also served as President, CEO and member of the Board of Directors for The Federation of Financial Services Inc. and concurrently served as Chairman, President and CEO of Centrum Services, Inc. He is currently the Chairman of the Board, CEO and one of the Founders of H2O Strategies, Inc, a company engaged in the development, manufacture and distribution of products used in water conservation, and also serves as Vice-Chairman of the Board of TORQD Holdings, Inc. Mr. Hellmers is a graduate of New York University and he and his family reside in Manhattan Beach, California.

Michael Koh, as the Founder and President & CEO of BuySell BA, leads a private real estate consulting company that has proudly assisted hundreds of individuals and corporations in realizing their dream of owning property in Buenos Aires, Argentina. With over 21 years of experience in the local market, he possesses extensive knowledge of the legal, regulatory, and economic aspects of real estate transactions in Argentina. He has a proven track record of company growth and acquisitions, having founded, managed, and sold several successful start-up companies in the past.

His mission is to make the entire process of purchasing real estate in Buenos Aires and ALL of Latin America not only completely safe but also enjoyable. He leverages his expertise, network, and technology to provide personalized and professional services to his clients, catering to residential, commercial, or investment property needs. Passionate about Argentina and its culture, he enjoys sharing insights and predictions about the real estate industry and the economy. Michael Koh has been featured in several prominent media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Economist, and has received multiple awards and honors, such as the Webby Award and San Diego Magazine's 25 Big Ideas.

Jack Laschever

Jack Laschever
Business Advisor, Gaucho Holdings

Javier Medin

Javier Medin
Business Advisor, Gaucho Holdings

Dr. Domenico Pecorini, PhD

Dr. Domenico Pecorini, PhD
Business and Investment Banking Advisor, Gaucho Holdings

Mr. Laschever has been associated with the world of travel and luxury for most of his career. Mr. Laschever served as the Vice President and Group Publisher of ForbesLife, the luxury travel and lifestyle magazine for Forbes' subscribers, and ForbesLife Executive Woman. He was one of the founders of a luxury travel and lifestyle magazine; European Travel & Life, and spent nearly ten years at American Express publishing where he served as Associate Publisher of Travel & Leisure, and as Vice President Group Publisher overseeing Departures Magazine and Skyguide. Mr. Laschever has served as Publisher of GQ and as President of the Miller Sports Group, and was also responsible for Tennis Magazine, as well as Sailing World and Cruising World. He is a graduate of Harvard University. Jack and his wife Sonali enjoy time with their young children Benjamin and Tara. He considers himself a passionate- albeit struggling- tennis player and golfer, and is known to enjoy a glass of wine (preferably Argentine) from time to time.

Javier Medin is a partner at Alfaro-Abogados law firm (offices in New York, London, Madrid and Buenos Aires and correspondents worldwide), and has served as Advisor to a number of multinational corporations in contracts, entertainment and sports.  As a member of the International Bar Association (IBA), he currently serves as Regional Representative of South America at Leisure Industries, and the Chair of Sports Law Section, as well as the Regional Director representing Argentina for the Association of South American Football Lawyers, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  Prior to his current partnership position, he was a partner at Remaggi, Pico, Jessen & Asociados, and he served as an associate at M&M Bomchil.  Mr. Medin specializes in Corporate, M&A, Project Finance, and Sports law, and is a member of the Argentina Bar Association.  He holds a Degree in Law and a Masters in Restructuring from Buenos Aires University.

Dr. Pecorini is the President and CEO of Life Episteme Group, a biotech company based in Geneva and sits in the Advisory Board of BHC - Investment and merchant bank of NYC; he is a Board Member of WHT srl in Rome, medical devices for women's health; he also served as the COO of Fondazione Parco Biomedico San Raffaele of Rome, one of the most outstanding medical and life science research institutions in Europe as well as the President of Inveni Engineering Group. Previous positions include Management and Senior Management roles at L’Arcoss SpA, Ismes SpA of Enel Group, and Saatchi & Saatchi. Dr. Pecorini has been published in the following editorial journals and periodicals: Europa 984, La Voce Repubblicana, The European Journal of International Affairs, Forum, and Credit Cheque Magazine. He received his degree and PhD in Political Sciences and International Economics from Libera Universita’ Internazionale degli Studi Sociali- LUISS – Viale Pola 12, Rome, and has completed advanced courses at; the United Nations Department of Technical Cooperation to Development, New York; and The World Bank, Washington D.C.; and the Istituto Universitario di Studi Europei – Turin, Via Sacchi.

Nicholas Turner

Nicholas Turner
Real Estate Advisor, Gaucho Holdings

Jasper A. van Duuren

Jasper A. van Duuren
Senior Advisor of Strategic Development, Gaucho Holdings

Jeroen P.A. van Duuren

Jeroen P.A. van Duuren
Business Advisor, Gaucho Holdings

Adventuring at a young age to over 120 countries Nicholas quickly discovered a passion for real estate. Starting his career in property gave him the opportunity to learn through mentorship and guidance from some of the very best in the industry. Nicholas has a deep understanding of international property markets, notably the UAE, UK, and USA and has worked with both Residential and Commercial real estate investment since 2005 holding senior management roles in several companies. Nicholas is fluent in five languages, has influential skills at all levels of management and holds an MA (Hons) in Interpreting and Translating from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Nicholas served as Tennis team captain of Heriot-Watt between 2002-2005. In the USA, Nicholas has acquired several multi-family properties and currently serves on the board of the Homeowners Association (HOA) at these developments. Nicholas' real estate portfolio spans the UAE, UK, Brazil, Argentina and USA. Nicholas has extensive experience working closely with HNWI and family offices in structuring real estate deals to invest in emerging markets and managing mixed use developments. In central London, he has worked with the UK’s largest PLC developers to increase and drive sales volume from the GCC and Far East for both retail sales and bulk acquisitions.  During his free time Nicholas enjoys football, tennis, athletics and travel.

Mr. van Duuren is owner and managing director of Van Duuren Districenters BV, a European road-based transportation management company in the Netherlands. His company manages major European distribution centers for NSK, Yanmar, Diesel Jeans, Cisco, Proctor & Gamble, and many others. Prior to this he was the owner and managing director of Van Duuren International B.V.; Nederlandse Pakket Dienst Amsterdam B.V.; and Van Duuren Warehousing B.V. In 2000 these companies were sold to Royal Mail and Mr. van Duuren was appointed Director of Logistics Division of the Royal Mail subsidiaries. Mr. van Duuren has extensive experience and expertise in the real estate sector with a focus in the commercial real estate area, and with major development projects including a golf course in Spain, and private residences in Antigua. He holds a Bachelor in Economics and Business Administration from the HEAO in Alkmaar, Netherlands. He currently resides in the Netherlands with his wife and three children.

Mr. Jeroen van Duuren is co-owner and managing director of Van Duuren Districenters BV, a European road-based transportation management company in the Netherlands. His company manages major European Distribution Centers for NSK, Yanmar, Diesel Jeans, Cisco, Proctor & Gamble, Foot Locker Europe and many others. Prior to this he was the owner and managing director of Van Duuren International B.V.; Nederlandse Pakket Dienst Amsterdam B.V.; and Van Duuren Warehousing B.V. In 2000 these companies were sold to Royal Mail and Mr. Jeroen van Duuren was appointed Director Sales & Marketing of GLS Netherlands (1400 employees) daughter company of the Royal Mail. Mr. van Duuren has over 25 years of experience and expertise in sales and marketing and his ability to fluently speak five languages has proven very useful in creating entrepreneurial opportunities. He currently resides in the Netherlands with his wife and two children. When he is not spending time with his family, he enjoys cycling and playing golf. www.vanduuren.com