Claudio Rabuco

Claudio has a degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Federico Santa María, and has completed specialization courses in innovation provided by the Organization of Ibero-American States (in Uruguay, 2000), as well as technology transfer provided by APEC (South Korea, 1998). Professional with 20 years' experience in the evaluation, financing and implementation of research projects in Chile and Europe, both in universities and the private sector. During his career, Claudio has managed investments for public and private projects of above US$40 million.

Andrés Leschot

Biochemist focused on applied research which is directly related to clinical, pre-clinical and toxicological studies of natural products in order to develop food supplements or functional foods. Development of industrial processes and patents to obtain and safeguard the active ingredients of natural product extracts developed.

Roberto Venegas

Roberto has a degree in Agricultural Engineering and an MBA from Universidad Católica de Chile, as well as a diploma in Financial Management from Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez. Professional with 16 years' experience, mainly in multinational companies, leading high-performance teams in demanding environments with constant challenges in the areas of finance, accounting, IT and administrative processes.

Humberto Zuckermann

Commercial Engineer from Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile, accounts with 25 years of working experience in top level multinational companies from Pharmaceutical, OTC, Multilevel and Massive Consumption areas.

Previous to MNL Group worked in Mexico as Commercial Regional Director - Spanish Latam, for Aspen Laboratories.

Camilo Orellana

Camilo has a degree in Agricultural Engineering from Universidad de Talca and extensive experience in the management of applied research associated with fruit crops. He also has competencies in the use of statistical software and database management.

Nicole Hewstone

Nicole has a degree in Agricultural Engineering from Universidad Católica de Chile and a PhD in Biochemistry from Universidad de Chile, and has been in the field for more than 20 years. Within her experience, her role as researcher in the genetic improvement of table grapes at Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), and her extensive experience in the genetic improvement of berries (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and blueberries) in Mexico can be highlighted.

Finally, here experience in the selection and development of Maqui germplasm banks should be noted.

Iván Mimica

Ivan Mimica has a degree in Sociology from the Catholic University in Chile. He also obtained two master degrees (MEd and MS) from Harvard university where he also did his doctoral studies.

He is a founding partner and director of Maqui New Life S.A., and has extensive experience as a founder and director of both local and multinational companies.Within his most prominent roles, the following can be highlighted: co-founder and CEO of CTI (Center for technology and innovation for health Chile), co-founder of Enterset (San Francisco, CA, USA), founder and CEO of Articulate Systems, company that developed the highly acclaimed Voice Navigator and Power Scribe, sold to L&H (Cambridge, MA, USA), founder and CEO of Unveil Technologies (sold to Microsoft).

Sergio Sepúlveda

Chartered accountant with a degree in Accounting and Auditing and 15 years' experience in multinational companies, responsible for internal control and administrative processes.

Julio Giddings

Julio Giddings has a degree in agronomy from the University of Concepcion. He is a visionary business man with a global understanding of high quality berries market. Pioneer in growth and commercialization of berries in Chile, Mexico and Peru. As a successful business man, Julio possess many qualities. Between them is noteworthy to mention his global vision of the company, which has allowed his company to achieve delivery of fresh berries of excellent quality all year round to the consumers, always thriving to excel and diversify the product mix through the development of tailored genetics to achieve addition of value in his products. Between the product mix, there is a big focus on the development of products that increase human health of the consumer. A clear example is Maqui berry, which is a superfruit with a high content of antioxidants.

Finally, Julio has created Las Vertientes Inversion group, which include SB Berries Chile, SB Berries Mexico, SB Andina, HSB Asia (China’s distributor branch) and Cerasus (Apple, peach and cherries exporter). Within the inversion group there are a livestock branch, a logistics branch (Global Trans) and a Biotechnology branch. Yearly sales of the holding exceed US 1.5 M.

Manuel de la Vega

Manuel has a degree in Biochemical Civil Engineering from Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, and has held several management positions in the Chilean food industry, in companies including CCU, Malloa (BAT), Watts, Bayas del Sur and MNL Group. Additionally, he provides consulting to companies including Milne Fruits (USA), CranChile, Terrafruit (Ecuador) and Vallefrío.

Manuel has specialized in the development of innovative products such as juices, superfruit clarified concentrates, superfruit pastes, fruit aromas and biotechnological processes such as enzyme application, freeze-drying, ultrafiltration, vacuum evaporation, spray drying, extracts and yeast cultures. He is an expert in processes for superberries such as cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, elderberries and maqui berries (for this latter fruit, he was the first to develop export products in 1999). Winner of the Innovación de Chile award in 2010.