Manish Rungta

Founder & Managing Partner

Manish has extensive transaction and investment experience in the beverage sector across multiple markets and beverages segments - both alcoholic & non-alcoholic. In his previous role, he was Managing Director at Duet Private Equity (a London-based middle market private equity firm with significant focus on the beverage sector) and involved with sourcing, execution, portfolio management and exit planning of private equity investments. Before that he was a member of the Global M&A team at Diageo, one of the largest alcoholic beverage companies in the world and led acquisitions, disposals, negotiated third party distribution agreements and strategic joint ventures in the beverage sector. Manish holds an MBA from INSEAD and is based in London, United Kingdom.

Mark Eames

Partner – Value Creation

Mark has extensive strategic, operational and financial planning experience within the beverage sector. As an entrepreneur, Mark found and led an independent management consulting firm for over 13 years with core focus on strategic planning and operational improvements for businesses in the beverage sector. Before that he held senior planning and operational roles at SAB Miller, a British multinational brewing and beverage company, for 11 years. Mark's experience spans multiple geographies and beverage segments. Some of his core areas of expertise are commercial due diligence, strategy formulation, route to market development, business planning, new business launches, and the implementation of systems and processes. Mark has a BSc in Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand and is based in the United Kingdom.

Chris LaPierre

Senior Associate

Chris has several years of transaction and investment experience across multiple sectors and geographies. In his prior role, Chris helped manage the acquisition strategy for Aptiv PLC (a $15 billion multinational technology firm) where he led sourcing, due diligence, deal structuring, negotiations, closing, and integration. Before that, Chris was an associate at Bronson Point Management, a US-based hedge fund, and an analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch where he covered the consumer discretionary and consumer staples sectors. Chris was the captain of the men’s lacrosse team at the University of Virginia where he won the 2011 National Championship. He holds an MBA from the University of Oxford and is based in London, United Kingdom.

Shalini Bansal

Financial Controller

Shalini manages the accounting, operations and control functions at Cælum Capital and also supports portfolio companies on their finance functions. Shalini has several years of experience in accounting, operations and auditing. Prior to Cælum Capital, she was the Group Financial Controller at UK based private equity firm Epic Investment Partners, where she handled the administration and Group accounts for 19 companies. Before that, she was an external statutory auditor with EY for 8 years.

Shalini is a qualified UK accountant with an ACCA and holds a management degree with IIM Ahmedabad.

Alan Rutherford, OBE

• 53 years experience in beverages production
• Involved in scotch production since 1975
• One of the foremost industry experts in scotch production and valuation
• President of the Malt Distillers Association of Scotland
• Served for 10 years on the Council of the Scotch Whisky Association

Philip Jenkins

• 25 years’ experience in beverages sector (Diageo, Scottish & Newcastle)
• Member of Diageo Finance Leadership Team
• Finance Director, Diageo Africa, Turkey, CEE
• M&A Director, Diageo Group, Asia Pacific and Africa
• Senior Advisor to McKinsey

Rudolfo Ruiz

• 50 years’ experience of which 42 years in beverage sector on the sales and distribution side
• 25 years in Bacardi and served as treasurer, CFO, CEO – USA and CEO – Asia/Pacific
• 17 years as Executive Vice President at Southern Wine & Spirits (the largest alcohol distributor in USA)
• Currently Managing Director at Park Street Companies (the largest alcoholic beverages importer in USA)