Board of Directors and Management

All of ASCONI owned and managed wineries are operated under the overall supervision of Asconi founders Mr. Constantin Jitaru and Mr. Anatolie Sirbu who are lifelong winemakers. In addition, each winery has its own general manager who is always an experienced winemaker such as Mr. Nicolae Sterbets at Vitis Hincesti.

Constantin JITARU is the Director General of of our Moldovan subsidiary Asconi S.R.L. Mr. Jitaru is engaged in overall management of the winemaking operations overseeing the activities of all entities within the group in Moldova. Mr. Jitaru is on the Board of both Asconi's subsidiaries S.A. Vitis Hincesti and S.A. Orhei Vin. Mr. Jitaru is also responsible for outlining strategies, goals and objectives for Asconi's subsidiaries and ensuring their implementation.

From 1993 to 1996, Mr. Jitaru was the General Director of VinInvest, the first wine investment project in the Republic of Moldova initiated by the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development. Mr. Jitaru was responsible for managing VinInvest's portfolio, sales and marketing and wine production process. From 1989 to 1993, Mr. Jitaru worked in the viticulture and wine making department of the Ministry of Agriculture in the Republic of Moldova, ascending to the head of the department in late 1993. Mr. Jitaru earned a bachelor degree, with honors, from the National College of Viticulture and Wine Making and a master's degree, with honors, from the Technical University of Moldova, majoring in Wine Making Technology. Mr. Jitaru has received numerous awards as a businessman of the year and for his contribution to the development of the Republic of Moldova and for community service.

Anatolie SIRBU is the Finance Director of our Moldovan subsidiaries Asconi S.R.L. and S.A. Orhei Vin. Mr. Sirbu is primarily responsible for strategic negotiations with buyers, suppliers, financial institutions and service providers. He is also involved in new product development, and oversees he quality control function at all plants.

From 1993 to 1994, Mr. Sirbu was the leading specialist at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Moldova where he was responsible for the operation and production of the scientific wine making plant in Gidighich. From 1990 to 1993, Mr. Sirbu served at the Ministry of Agriculture for the Republic of Moldova as the Quality Inspector of Alcohol Production and then as the leading wine specialist at the Department of Viticulture and Wine Making. During this time, Mr. Sirbu was responsible for the supervision of Moldova's wine industry and research. Mr. Sirbu earned a bachelor and a masters degree, both with honors, from the Technical University of Moldova, majoring in Wine Making Technology.

Nicolae STERBETS has served as our Chairman, President and CEO since July 8, 2005. Mr. Sterbets HAS been our Director since June 2003 and the General Manager of S.A. Vitis Hincesti since 1988.

Mr. Sterbets oversees the operations at all six locations of the subsidiary. Prior to that Mr. Sterbets was Deputy Director of Moldvinprom Agroindustrial Association in Hincesti between 1981 and 1988.

From 1970 to 1981 he worked as wine technologist and later as deputy director of Sophiisky winery. Since 1998 Mr. Sterbets was a founder of the Association of Winemakers of Moldova and, has occupied its the President since 1998. Mr. Sterbets received his bachelor's degree in winemaking from the National College of Viticulture and Wine Making of Moldova and his Master's of Science in winemaking degree from the Moldova Agricultural University.

Tatiana RADU has served as our Interim Financial Officer since July 9, 2005. Mr. Radu has also been the Marketing director of Asconi SRL since January 2001. Her primary responsibilities with Asconi SRL are direct communication with distributors of Asconi wines worldwide, development and implementation of marketing and sales strategies.

From June 1999 to January 2001 Ms. Radu was the Director of Export-Import Department of Asconi From 1993 to 1999 Mrs. Radu was the Sales Manager of Perla. She earned a masters degree, with honors, from the International Institute of Management, majoring in Management Besides, she earned a masters degree, with honors, from the Teachers' University, majoring in Fine Arts and Drawing.

Nurlan ARINOV has joined our Board of Directors as an independent director and a member of the Audit Committee of the Board in October 2004. Mr. Arinov is currently the audit consultant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Kazakhstan. He possesses over eight years of relevant experience, of which five years in corporate business and public accounting and three years in academia. Mr. Arinov's scope of expertise encompasses audits of financial statements and internal controls of oil and gas companies as well as companies operating in the fast moving consumer goods industry. As a logistics and procurement manager of the Coca-Cola bottlers in Uzbekistan during 1999-2002 Mr. Arinov acquired hands-on knowledge and experience of the beverage industry and bottling operations.

Mr. Arinov graduated with honors from the University of Illinois with a Master's degree in accountancy. He is a US Certified public accountant. Mr. Arinov also possesses a Master's degree in engineering from the Bauman State Technical University in Moscow, Russia.

Anatolyi KRUPSKYI joined our Board of Directors as an independent director and as a member of the Audit Committee in February 2005. From December 2002 to present, Mr. Krupskyi has served as the General Director of Expowine in Moscow, the Russian Federation. From 1995 to 2002, he has served as the leading specialist of the Federal Tax Enforcement Service of the Russian Federation. Mr. Krupskyi graduated with Master’s degrees in economics and engineering from the Executive Military School in Voli, the Russian Federation in 1998. He also holds a law degree from the Saratov State Law Academy.

Andrew GANI has joined our Board of Directors as an independent director in February 2005. From November 2003 to present, Mr. Gani has served as the Sales Director of Expowine in Moscow, the Russian Federation. From 1998 to 2003, he has served as the Regional Manager of Epsilon in Moscow. Mr. Gani graduated from Stavropol Technical University with a Master’s degree in Economics and Management.