about
Sivan Cotel is a strategic executive and board leader with 15+ years of experience, including nine years launching new startups and seven years managing profit/nonprofit governing boards to drive business performance and client service excellence. He is the Principal of SC Strategy & Consulting, where he focuses on growth strategy, fractional CFO services, and other management consulting projects.
A Wall Street and startup veteran focused on growing early-stage companies into businesses, he was the Co-Founder and former Director of Operations of Stonecutter Spirits, which was successfully acquired at the end of 2020. The Vermont producer of gin and whiskey was founded in 2013, and won top industry awards after launching its Single Barrel Gin in 2015 and Heritage Cask Whiskey in 2016 to rave reviews. Both products won the prestigious Good Food Award.
Before launching Stonecutter Spirits, Sivan was previously the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of WhistlePig Whiskey, producer of one of the highest-rated rye whiskies ever. With experience building and developing ideas from concept to fruition, he also continues as an independent business consultant and enjoys helping growing companies develop their operational and business planning.
Sivan currently serves on the following boards:
Member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Vermont Health Network, a nonprofit health care system with six hospitals and home health & hospice across Northern Vermont and Northeastern New York.
Member & Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors of Porter Medical Center, a nonprofit hospital and health care system in Middlebury, Vermont.
Member of the Vermont Cannabis Control Board Advisory Committee, a statewide regulatory body created by statute to develop a detailed regulatory framework for Vermont's upcoming legal cannabis marketplace.
Member of the Board of Directors of the Green Mountain Secure Retirement Plan, a statewide small-business retirement plan run by the State of Vermont.
Member of the Board of Directors of Main Street Alliance of Vermont, a small-business advocacy organization throughout Vermont.
Member of the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors of New England Federal Credit Union, a financial institution with $1.4 billion in assets across Vermont, New Hampshire, and Michigan.
Sivan spent the first part of his career in financial services at Bear Stearns, J.P.Morgan Chase, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Before working in finance, he graduated with honors from Wesleyan University with a Bachelor's degree double-majoring in Psychology and Music and a Master's degree in Psychology. Sivan currently lives in Vergennes, Vermont, where he serves as the elected City Auditor.
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