Mark W Kehaya

Bio

Mr. Kehaya has over 20 years of experience in general management and finance positions. Mr. Kehaya formed Meriturn Partners in 2001, and provides leadership in all aspects of the Meriturn Fund with a particular focus in transaction structuring, operational turnarounds, and portfolio management. He is a member of the Board of Johnston Textiles and former Chairman at Dunn Paper. Prior to Meriturn, he was President and CEO of Eturn Communications, Inc. (now Xpherix). At Eturn, Mr. Kehaya was brought in by the Board of Directors to develop and implement a turnaround plan. The plan included refocusing the business from an Internet based company to a communications software provider, reducing the cash burn, creating a new software platform, and refocusing the business development efforts. When the plan was secure he turned the business over to a seasoned industry professional. Prior to joining Eturn, Mr. Kehaya worked for Standard Commercial Corporation (NYSE: STW) in a variety of different roles. As CEO of CRES Neva and CRES Trading from 1998-2000, Mr. Kehaya developed, built, and operated a processing plant in St. Petersburg, Russia. As CFO of the tobacco division, Mr. Kehaya was a senior member of the management team that turned around this division from record losses to record profits in four years. In this role, Mr. Kehaya participated in the $360 million restructuring of the division's balance sheet, implemented new risk management procedures, cut expenses, improved asset turns and financial controls, and negotiated certain key strategic acquisitions. As Director of Strategic Planning for the holding company, Mr. Kehaya developed the corporation's first strategic plan and oversaw the implementation of the global budgeting system. Prior to joining STW, Mr. Kehaya worked for Fieldstone Private Capital Group and Bankers Trust (now Deutsche Bank) in their project finance and restructuring groups. Currently, Mr. Kehaya is a member of the Board of Directors of Standard Commercial Corporation (NYSE: STW). Mr. Kehaya earned an MA degree in Economics from Cambridge University in England and attended the Fuqua School at Duke University.