Our team
The people behind Cosana
A German-Japanese family with a shared passion for New Zealand's finest honey.
Dr. Gerhard Schmid
Group Chairman · Germany
Microbiologist (PhD) with 36 years of industry experience, including 17 leading a biotechnology business. Co-founded Cosana Europe and Cosana New Zealand with Prof. Keiji Terao in 2019. A hobby beekeeper who values nature and bee products.
Maximilian Schmid
Managing Director Europe · Germany
Bachelor of International Business (Munich Business School) and Master of Management (IE Business School Madrid). Leads Cosana's European business.
The wider Cosana family
Prof. Dr. Keiji Terao
President, Cosana Co. Ltd. · Japan
Founded Cosana Co. Ltd. in 2006 in the health-food sector. Launched Manuka honey sales in Japan in 2008 and grew it to the country's leading market position. Visiting professor at several universities (Kobe, Mongolian National University). Also founded CycloChem Co. Ltd. in 2002.
Chris Bowman
CEO, Cosana New Zealand · New Zealand
Joined the team in May 2021 after a successful career across New Zealand's honey industry, where he planned and built several honey-export and accredited testing-lab businesses. Focused on quality, workplace culture and industry leadership. Member of Apiculture New Zealand's Standards, Compliance and Regulatory focus group. Certificate of Higher Education in Business Management (Open University UK).
Mark Harrison
Managing Director America · USA
Chemist (PhD) with 31 years of industry experience, including the set-up of a new business activity, with overseas experience setting up and managing the Asian sales organization and managing the development of new products and applications for the Consumer and Industrial products markets.