FERMENTRAS

Rukn was the Managing Director for Remy Cointreau responsible for the Indian Subcontinent & Gulf  from 2009 to 2015 and was instrumental in setting up a distillery in a Joint Venture to produce India’s most premium Brandy ‘Janus’ with Sula Vineyards. Prior to this, he was the Asst. Vice President at Pernod Ricard India and over the years managed the Wine business, Import  Division (BIO) & Export of IMFL brands to the Gulf & African markets. He also setup the successful ‘Nine Hills’ Winery for Pernod Ricard in India. Rukn has previously worked with Nestle, E&J Gallo Winery and the Oberoi Group of Hotels.

Over the years he has launched several wine & spirit brands in India including LXIII Cognac, Jacob’s Creek Australian Wine, Mount Gay Rum, Metaxa Brandy, St. Remy Brandy, Piper Heidsieck Champagne etc.  He is currently the Vice President of India’s ‘Wine Society’ and a judge for ‘Sommelier India’. 

RUKN LUTHRA

Founder & Managing Director

 Set up DiVitas Capital, a boutique investment banking and family office in August 2006. Was a Principal with AF Ferguson & Co. (KPMG affiliate) until KPMG was set up in 1993 when he joined them. Arjun spent two years with KPMG in London and was admitted as a Partner in 1996. He set up KPMG’s Corporate Finance business in Delhi in 1997, then co-founded a high technology services start-up funded by venture capitalists, returned to Investment Banking with ANZ Investment Bank in Mumbai as Head of Mergers & Acquisitions (2002-05).
Arjun has significant experience as an auditor, on due diligences, as a banker and as a deal maker.  

ARJUN SAWHNY

Chief Financial Advisor

Served as Director - Manufacturing at Seagrams (India) from 1996 and was appointed to the company's Executive Committee. Was promoted as Vice President – Manufacturing upon the acquisition by Pernod Ricard
Purwez headed Pernod Ricard's Manufacturing Department for over fifteen years, during which they produced some of the most successful brands in their respective categories in the Indian Liquor Industry and grew in size from 4 mm to over 17 mm (9Litre) cases per annum, within a span of eight years. Retired as Executive Vice President - Manufacturing in 2011.

PURWEZ PATEL

Technical Advisor

Deepak Suri is a Tokyo based business, brand & marketing specialist. An International business manager with strong interpersonal and consultative skills to build strategic alliances in support of key business initiatives, as well as, entry into newer markets.

Previously he worked at Shell in Sultanate of Oman, United Kingdom and Vietnam in various leadership roles at local, regional and global level. A unique leader who straddles the East and the West with equal ease

Deepak is a specialist in developing marketing, brand and communication strategies in emerging and developed markets. He has over two decades worth of experience in building B2B and B2C brands across Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, South Asia and Far East.

DEEPAK SURI

International Business Advisor

With 30 years industry experience, Ronan has formidable expertise and insight in the global beverage alcohol sector. 
Career highlights include 16 years with Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard developing the Jameson and Bushmills Irish Whiskey brands throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia Pacific and in key Southern, Central & Eastern European markets, as well as Global Travel Retail. From 2013 to 2016, he launched Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur for Ornua in the U.S., Germany, France and Denmark. 
Through his business development consultancy, Next Step International, established in 2007, Ronan provides guidance to and sets up route-to-market for beverage alcohol businesses in Europe and North America. Current clients include Heaven’s Door American Whiskey, Hinch Distillery Irish Whiskey, Luxardo liqueurs from Italy and Shevet Craft Beer from Israel.
Ronan holds a B.A. (hons) in International Marketing & Languages from Dublin City University and is a member of the Institute of Sales Management (London).