Stephen A. de Kanter
Stephen A. de Kanter is an Investor/Partner and Member of the Board of Advisors of the Company. Mr. de Kanter was the President of Global Licensing for The Walt Disney Company from 1999 to 2001 where he was responsible for all worldwide licensing operations for this $600 million profit center. Prior to that he was with Disney Consumer Products Latin America for more than 10 years during which time he was responsible for growing revenues from $3 million to $80 million in 1999, which represented sales of more than $1.7 billion at retail. During those 10 years, Mr. de Kanter had served successively as Vice President, Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President and President of Disney Consumer Products Latin America.
Prior to working for Disney Consumer Products Latin America, Mr. de Kanter worked for Heublein, Inc.’s Wine and Spirit Division for approximately 10 years. From 1979 to 1981, he served as Director of International Marketing and was primarily responsible for developing and implementing the Smirnoff vodka marketing strategy globally. From 1981 to 1986, Mr. de Kanter served as Vice President of Operations in the Western Hemisphere. As Vice President of Operations, he was responsible for directing all beverage operations in Canada, the Caribbean and South America. From 1986 to 1989, Mr. de Kanter served as Vice President of the Brand Development Center. As Vice President of the Brand Development Center, he directed all new product development, including marketing, research & development, packaging and market research. In the late 1970’s, he was an Associate Product Manager for Clairol, Inc. in New York. Prior to working for Clairol, Inc., he founded Braseados Espanoles in Seville, Spain and became its general manager.
Mr. de Kanter was in the U. S. Army Intelligence from 1968 thru 1971. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Maryland in 1967 and a Masters of Business Administration in International Business from Syracuse University in 1972. Mr. de Kanter is fluent in Spanish, Dutch, French and German. He currently resides in Key Biscayne, Florida.
