Team

Mountain Hazelnuts is a dedicated team of agricultural, business, and development professionals determined to build a world-class, triple bottom-line venture and a major player in the global hazelnut market. The Company directly employs approximately 88 staff and further supports a number of local entrepreneurs who supply goods and services to the company.

CREATING EMPLOYMENT AND BUILDING CAPACITY

Mountain Hazelnuts invests in capacity development and mentorship. Since 2009, the company has grown from a small business to one of Bhutan's largest companies, through hiring people who have the energy, talent, and dedication to make significant contributions to their communities. Many employees have grown from entry level roles to running large teams and developing innovative solutions within their area of specialty. The company uses its training programs to attract quality employees who want to learn professional skills and to create a replicable model for other companies.

LEARNING ORGANIZATION

From nursery workers and field extension to highly trained technical specialists and coders – the team is as diverse as its challenges. Thus, training programs range from natural sciences, such as soil chemistry and integrated pest management, to creative marketing, financial analysis, and team management skills. All training is geared toward personalized career and personal development.

EMPOWERING WOMEN, FULFILLING POTENTIAL

Promoting female leadership and gender equality is particularly important to success, both within the Company and in the communities. The Women’s Leadership Initiative mentors Mountain Hazelnuts’ growing number of female managers. Close to half of the employees are female, with a workplace culture that emphasizes equality and respect between men and women. Effective female managers and successful women farmers become powerful examples to their communities and create positive multi-generational impacts.

FAIR DEAL FOR GROWER PARTNERS

A profit-sharing mechanism has been instituted by the Company, whereby 10% of the annual profits will be distributed among our grower partners. The profit-sharing mechanism which we have introduced ensures that growers will receive a share of the company's profits.  Additionally, farmers have a guaranteed floor price for their nuts and a market adjustment mechanism to ensure that they receive a fair and sustainable return for their efforts.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

DR. SEAN WATSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Sean has been based in Bhutan since 2010, where he oversees Mountain Hazelnuts’ agricultural operations. He has worked with the Company since 2006 on a range of assignments in China and Bhutan, including orchard development, land surveying, and environmental analysis. Sean has 20 years of experience working on agricultural and infrastructure projects, focusing on environmental, logistical, and operational issues. He received a BSc from University of Bristol and PhD in Genetics from University of Sheffield.

JEFF NICHOLLS, CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Jeff Nicholls oversees five key departments within Mountain Hazelnuts, including: Nursery Operations, IT, Processing & Facilities, Logistics, and Orchard Management.  He draws on more than 30 years of experience with forestry and plantation ventures in the Asia Pacific region. Previously Jeff focused on the management of biological assets and processing operations for a range of clients, including pension funds, development agencies, governments, and large agroforestry groups. Jeff holds a degree in Forestry Science from Canterbury University, New Zealand.

SHERYL LOKE, DIRECTOR, SALES & MARKETING

As Director of Sales and Marketing at Mountain Hazelnuts, Sheryl leads the development and execution of strategic marketing initiatives to drive brand growth. With a focus on expanding market reach and fostering global partnerships, Sheryl plays a key role in positioning Mountain Hazelnuts as a leader in the sustainable agriculture sector. She has more than 15 years’ work experience, most recently driving nature-based solutions that support local farming communities. She has worked across Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and China, supporting companies to mitigate and offset carbon emissions while improving the resilience of their supply chains. Sheryl combines this with multicultural international development experience across the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Moldova, Kosovo, Syria and Barbados. She holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford, and a MSc in Social Policy and International Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

TSHERING YANGZOM KINLAY, DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES & ADMINISTRATION

Tshering Yangzom Kinlay is the Head of Human Resources at Mountain Hazelnuts. She brings over 10 years of experience in people-focused leadership, spanning Bhutan's agricultural, youth, and educational sectors. Tshering has designed and implemented strategic HR and engagement initiatives, including a communication platform that supports skill-building, knowledge sharing, and responsive interaction across the company's network of hazelnut growers. Her background also includes youth development work at the Bhutan Youth Development Fund, where she led fundraising and donor engagement to expand youth support programs nationwide. This experience has shaped her people-centred approach to organisational growth. She holds a BA in Communication from Rider University, USA.

NAMGAY ZAM, MANAGER, COMMUNICATIONS & COMMUNITY

Namgay Zam was formerly the Executive Director of the Journalists' Association of Bhutan (JAB) and a journalist for almost two decades. She has extensive experience in Bhutanese civil society, and as a trainer and consultant in media, communications, and gender rights. She has been internationally recognized for her grassroots work in media and civil society. Namgay is a Young Asia Leader and a Humphrey Fellow, with a diverse educational and professional background that spans the US, Europe, Africa, and several regions of South Asia. Her passions include advocating for gender rights, mental health, and social justice. Namgay completed her Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and holds a BA in English Literature from Lady Shri Ram College. 

SONAM DORJI, MANAGEMENT FELLOW

At Mountain Hazelnuts, Sonam Dorji applies marketing and business development experience gained across Australia and Bhutan to managing our extensive field operations. He holds a Master of Business from Queensland University of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Information and Communication Technology from Rangsit University International College in Thailand. Sonam has also completed certification in Marketing Analytics and Insights through RMIT University.

RAM KRISHNA NEOPANEY, SR. MANAGER, OPERATIONAL AUDIT & COMPLIANCE

Ram Krishna Neopaney brings 15 years of robust experience in quality assurance, including laboratory management, Six Sigma, and systems development. He specializes in quality management systems, food safety management systems, and environmental and safety management systems. He has ensured compliance across various national and international sectors. He holds a B.Sc. in Life Sciences from Sherubtse College and excels in executing quality and safety standards while ensuring operational efficiency and compliance.

FOUNDERS

TERESA LAW, CO-FOUNDER

“As a female entrepreneur with almost 40 years of professional experience working all over the world, I know the importance of providing opportunities for women. Almost half of our staff are female, filling management and supervisory roles throughout the Company - they and the other young staff have seized the opportunity for employment, training, and career development that they wouldn't have elsewhere.”

Teresa worked in banking for 20 years, including senior roles for JP Morgan and Citibank in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the USA. Prior to joining Mountain Hazelnuts, Teresa served as Chair of a development organization that works with HIV-impacted communities through social programs and income generation schemes. She received a BA from Westmont College and an MBA from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business.

DANIEL SPITZER, CO-FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN EMERITUS

“During the 1970s, I spent three years in the Himalayan region immersed in local communities. While I was inspired by the depth of the culture and the beauty of the environment, I was struck by the fragility of these human and natural systems. This inspired me to start Mountain Hazelnuts as a sustainable venture that would benefit all stakeholders.”

Daniel has founded and led several companies in Asia that have successfully combined financial objectives with social and environmental goals, including Plantation Timber Products Group (PTP), which he built into China’s largest sustainable forestry company. PTP established $200 million of new facilities to process logs grown by 700,000 farmer partners in deforested Himalayan foothills and vulnerable river regions in the interior of China.  Daniel started his career in finance, and was Partner & Managing Director of a major private investment fund and Managing Director of a global merchant bank. He received a BA from University of California, Berkeley, and an MA from Stanford University.

JUSTIN FINNEGAN, FOUNDING MANAGING DIRECTOR

Justin started his career in agriculture as a Fulbright and Trustman Scholar researching sustainable farming in Himalayan villages. Later, Justin helped develop the Asian operations of a leading global textile firm, where he gained operational experience. He served as a White House Fellow during 2013-2014 followed by a role as a Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, at USAID for their ‘Feed the Future’ initiative. Justin became the Founding Managing Director for Bloomberg’s New Economy in 2018. He received an AB from Harvard College and an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

DR. TOM MOLNAR

Dr. Tom Molnar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Biology at Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA. He earned his PhD from Rutgers in 2006 and oversees the hazelnut breeding program, which focuses on developing trees resistant to eastern filbert blight (EFB). Since 1996, he has traveled extensively to find new hazelnut germplasm, leading to the identification and use of many new EFB-resistant plants. The first new cultivars were released in 2020 and are now being planted across the northeastern USA, introducing European hazelnuts as a viable crop to the region.

DR. ANDREW WATSON, CHIEF SCIENTIST

Andrew is Mountain Hazelnuts’ Chief Scientist, and has advised the Company since its inception. He has spent more than forty years developing and managing significant agri-businesses in twenty countries. He has worked with major international food companies such as H.J. Heinz, Pepsi Foods, and Simplot. Andrew has spent half of his time working for Mountain Hazelnuts since November 2005. He received a BSc from Cambridge University and a PhD from University of California, Berkeley.

DR. BRAD RUBENSTEIN, IT ADVISOR

Dr. Rubenstein is a recognized innovator in systems and ventures at the intersection of technology, operations and finance. His distinguished career has spanned more than three decades in senior roles with leading companies such as Sun Microsystems in Silicon Valley, exciting technology start-ups, and Goldman Sachs in New York, where he oversaw cybersecurity. He is a published author in the field of management and a recognized contributor in the performing arts, ranging from opera and symphonies to music festivals and theater. He holds a BS, MS, and PhD in Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley.