BioPrime Management Team
BioPrime Agri Industries Inc. is the exclusive distribution and Marketing Company for BioPrime, in the Philippines and throughout the ASEAN region.
Ben Mead -
Executive Chairman
Ben moved to Asia in 2014, bringing more than 20 years of executive management expertise in the energy, industrial, resource, and agricultural sectors for both public and private organisations. Since then, he has focused on establishing startups in ASEAN's agriculture sector, with a particular emphasis on large-scale plantations of energy crops and other high-value species for specialty markets. He also established and maintains The Mead Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that is actively involved in various programs in the Philippines, such as ongoing medical missions, community employment creation, and environmental conservation.
Paul Tolentino -
Senior Vice President - Operations, ASEAN REGION
For nearly a decade, Paul spearheaded the turn-around of a Philippines-based company, of which he holds partial ownership. Before this, he served in various capacities in multinational corporations within the crop protection sector, spanning functional and country management roles both domestically and abroad, including stints in Australia and Thailand before returning to the Philippines. A techno-commercial leader, he thrives on empowering teams, growing businesses, and maximizing returns for stakeholders. Though at the back 9 of his career, he finds fulfillment in continuous learning, developing new businesses, mentorship, and forging new connections.
Bruce McConnell -
Vice President of Operations
After graduating with Certificates of Technology in Mechanical Design (CAD) and Manufacturing Engineering in Australia, Bruce went on to travel, live, and work in some of the most remote and challenging regions in the world. This earned him some 35 plus years of business management experience in a variety of commercial operational roles in East Africa, Afghanistan, the UAE, Pakistan, as well as UKAID humanitarian assistance programs in West Africa. He most recently served as chief operational officer of an NGO, establishing charitable organizations in Russia, Uzbekistan, and the Philippines.
Jim Paul Porticos -
Vice President of External Affairs
Jim has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Horticulture and a specialization in Production and Field Management, as well as a Master of Public Management from the University of the Philippines, Los Banos, where he also studied Agricultural and Rural Development. He has over 25 years of farm operational experience, specializing in the banana industry in the Philippines and other Asian countries, including Mozambique. Additionally, experience in sales, quality assurance, farm operations, production, logistics, marketing, and trading positions, with a focus on containerized, pressurized ripening systems.
Bernard Canapi -
Vice President of Technical Research & Development
With more than 35 years of experience in agricultural research, extension, sales, marketing, and business development, as well as knowledge of international leadership development programs. Bernard earned a Bachelor of Science in Crop Protection from Cagayan State University, Piat Chapter, in 1980. In 1992, he earned a Master of Science in Entomology with a minor in Weeds from the University of the Philippines, Los Banos. He served as Country Director until his retirement in 2018, and is a well-known figure in the agricultural industry, with extensive local and international networks.