Our Leadership Team & Approach
Rooted in the richness of diversity, our carefully selected leadership team comes together with a wealth of expertise spanning beverage alcohol and consumer packaged goods. This collective experience, coupled with immense passion, propels Oliana Experience to the forefront of the Japanese premium wine and spirits industry. With a steadfast commitment to our mission, we passionately curate exceptional products that bridge tradition, innovation, and community, forging a global network of enthusiasts who share our profound appreciation for Japanese culture. Through mutual support and purpose-driven leadership, we unite as a team to chart a course of excellence.
Taichi Seki
Owner / CEO
Steering the helm as CEO of Oliana Experience, Taichi Seki stands as a seasoned co-founder of ICONIC SPIRITS—a distinguished venture specializing in crafting remarkable Japanese Spirits. With his extensive tenure as a National Chain Sales Manager at Asahi Beer, he proudly earned the distinction of being the foremost sales representative in the U.S. market for five consecutive years, adeptly managing accounts nationwide.
Yoshimasa Hotta
Principal Advisor & Investor
After serving as a senior manager at Deloitte, Mr. Hotta established Hotta Liesenberg Saito LLP in 1990. This CPA firm achieved global recognition under his leadership. In 2011, he joined POSI with a goal of enhancing client services through personalization and empathy. Holding CPA licenses in California, New York, and New Jersey, he's also a licensed investment advisor representative (IAR).
Sol Clahane
Chief Strategy Officer
President and Founder of Boardroom Brew, LLC beverage consulting, offers specialized support to spirits start-ups seeking sales and distribution expertise. Previously, she held the position of VP and General Manager, US Region at Canopy Growth Corp., successfully launching Canopy's CBD business in the US. With an impressive background, Sol led national sales teams at Pernod Ricard and Brown Forman, global spirits industry leaders, and also held various leadership roles at Coca Cola Enterprises, spanning Revenue Growth Management, Operations, Sales, and Strategy.
Kevin Asato
Chief Sales Officer
Kevin is a 30 year beverage industry expert with diverse experience in Adult Beverage, NonAlcoholic Beverages and Carbonated Soft Drinks. He is credentialed as a Certified Spirit Specialist (CSS), WSET Wine Level 1, and working on his Cicerone Certification . His tenure with Anheuser Busch, Miller Brewing, PepsiCo, Dr. Pepper Snapple, Bacardi USA, and Republic National Distributing has enabled him to develop and execute Sales, Marketing, and Distribution plans across multiple channels in both state and national capacities.
Paul Frank
Chief Marketing Officer
Paul Frank is an accomplished marketer recognized for using a holistic approach to promote companies, brands, and products, with experience driving marketing, analytics, sales, and business development for high-growth start-ups and Fortune industry-leaders. Paul held diverse sales and marketing leadership roles at Kellogg's, ConAgra Brands, and Scotts MiracleGro including directing customer/shopper/brand marketing strategies and business development. He has extensive experience developing new to world brands across a variety of regulated categories and has been instrumental in leading several startups to exponential growth while developing consumer brand love.