Currently CEO of the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Mel has played an instrumental role in the growth, expansion and strategic positioning of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf over the last eight years. During which time The Coffee Bean has grown from sixty to six hundred stores with positive same stores sales for each consecutive year. He has overseen and directed almost all of the functional areas within the company and in December 2005 was appointed a member of the Board.

Annualized system wide revenues of The Coffee Bean now exceeds $300 million with retail and specialty operations in more than 16 countries.

Mel has studied and worked in South East Asia, England, and America giving him a global perspective and understanding of people, world markets, and business opportunities in a variety of sectors.

Mel's key role will be to advise the chairman and board on global strategic growth and group structure.