Our People

Muhammed Majeed, Ph.D.

Founder

Dr. Muhammed Majeed was born and raised in Kerala, India.

After graduating in Pharmacy from Kerala University, Majeed emigrated to USA in 1975. He continued his graduate studies in Long Island University, New York (M.S.) and St. John's University New York (Ph.D.) specializing in Industrial Pharmacy.

Dr. Majeed has over 15 years of research experience in progressively responsible research positions with Pfizer Inc., Carter-Wallace and Paco Research.

Sabinsa Corporation, a research oriented pharmaceutical and nutraceutical marketing company, was founded by Dr. Majeed in 1988. Although the transition from a researcher to a marketing company was a tremendous challenge, Dr. Majeed handled it successfully. At present, this New Jersey based firm employs over 60 people.

In 1991, Dr. Majeed set up a research group at Bangalore, India called Sami Labs Ltd. The facility now has over 500 people working for the company. Sami Labs combines manufacturing and global marketing of nutraceuticals and fine chemicals with cutting edge research.

Sami's research based new products picked up recognition from the Indian Government as well. Sami received the National award for quality products from the PRESIDENT OF INDIA in the area of Basic Drugs . Both QUALITY and INNOVATION were the key components that resulted in the award. In addition, Sami pioneered the research and marketing of a number of phytonutrients based on Indian raw materials. Sami Labs was also honored twice by the Spices Board of India, receiving one award for developing a market for Garcinia cambogia and the other for export performance.

Dr. Majeed received awards from several Indian American groups for his enterprising work and progress. He also received the 1996 Entrepreneur of the year award by the National Federation of Asian Americans.

In 1997, Sabinsa Corporation had been ranked America’s 90th fastest growing company by INC. Magazine. Sabinsa also ranked 7th in New Jersey among the fastest growing Technology based companies (New Jersey Fast 50).

In early 1999, Sami Labs started a division called Sami Spices based at Cochin, India to promote procurement and marketing of spices.

N. Kalyanam, Ph.D.

President - R&D

Dr. N. Kalyanam is the President of Sabinsa's New Jersey R&D. His research interests are synthetic methodology and chiral chemistry. He obtained his M.Sc. in Chemistry at the University of Madras and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Baylor University (Texas). Upon completing his Ph.D., Dr. Kalyanam completed 2 years of postdoctoral studies focusing on organic synthesis procedures before returning to India. In India he worked for a number of reputable companies, IPCL, Ciba Geigy, and SPIC Pharma, to which he made major scientific contributions.

Dr. Kalyanam's primary responsibilities at Sabinsa include the development of efficient and novel scientific routes for xenobiotics and intermediates as well as the exploration of new business areas.

Anurag Pande, Ph.D.,

Vice President - Scientific Affairs

Dr.Pande has been with Sabinsa's parent company, Sami Labs, since 2004 in a research capacity, and since 2008 has been based in Sabinsa Japan's Tokyo office as Senior Technical Manager.

Dr.Pande holds a Ph.D. in Phytochemistry from RML Awadh University. He has both a Masters degree in Science and a Bachelor's degree in Science from Lucknow University.

Dr.Pande is based in Sabinsa's corporate headquarters in East Windsor, NJ.

Reza Kamarei, Ph.D.

Vice President - Science & Technology

Dr. Kamarei received his M.S. and Ph.D. in food science & technology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has worked for companies such as Clintec Nutrition (a Joint Venture between Nestle and Baxter) and National Starch in R&D management capacities. Dr. Kamarei was Senior Manager, Nutritional Juices and Product and Ingredient Sciences with Coca-Cola North America where he developed neutralized fruit juice technology which was the basis of Coca-Cola’s 2008 top R&D prize for innovative products. From March 2009 until joining Sabinsa, Dr. Kamarei provided R&D and management consulting services to national and global companies in the areas of functional ingredients, nutraceuticals, nutritional foods & beverages, dietary supplements and medical foods. Dr. Kamarei is inventor and co-inventor of more than twenty patents and author of numerous peer-reviewed papers.

Enkhmart (Michelle) Dudleenamjil, M.D., Ph.D.

Manager - Technical Services

Michelle obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Health Sciences University of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar. She received her Ph.D. in Microbiology from Brigham Young University, Utah. Michelle worked as an Assistant Professor at the Health Sciences University of Mongolia. Her studies were conducted in virology, including epidemiological studies of endemic viral infections in Mongolia and virus uptake by the host cell.

As part of Sabinsa's Scientific Research team, she will be involved in designing and developing new products and sources, and presenting Sabinsa's innovative, proprietary ingredients to the Nutraceutical and Cosmetics community.

Shaheen Majeed

Marketing Director

Marketing Director Shaheen Majeed knows Sabinsa from the ground up. When he was just 17 years old Shaheen began in the warehouse of the company his father founded in 1988, followed by a stint in customer service. He then handled a variety of sales positions, which included Tri-State region sales, California Sales Manager, and Latin American Business Development, a responsibility he still handles in addition to his role as Marketing Director. Shaheen has also managed Contract Manufacturing, been Cosmetic Marketing Manager and Executive Assistant to the CEO.  He is also spearheading the company’s expansion of their functional foods offerings.

In his spare time Shaheen earned a BA in Economics from Rutgers University, NJ and an MBA in Business Management from Keller Management School, CA. Additional Certificates from Executive MBA courses & schools attended includes:

• Asian Institute of Management, Makati City, Philippines, 2001: Family Owned Business

• Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, India, 2005: Marketing Strategies in a Competitive Environment

• Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, India, 2005: Strategic Thinking & Implementation

In February 2009 Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine names him one of 40 under 40 notable members of the industry. In March 2009 Shaheen was elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Herbal Products Association.

Madhu Subramanian

Executive Vice President - Global Operations

Madhu holds overall responsibility of the global affairs of the company and co-ordinates the various companies of the group. He obtained his Masters degree in Business Administration from Ashland University, Ohio and gathered valuable corporate financial management experience during his tenure with Lintas, a leading advertising agency in India.

Besides directing the day-to-day financial matters of the company, Madhu is also involved in setting up the infrastructure for Sabinsa’s international operations. Additionally, he monitors international purchases and coordinates with Sabinsa’s manufacturing facility, SAMI Labs Ltd. in India, to ensure that the company’s products reach customers in the US expediently.

Hame K Persaud

Sr. Vice President - Sales & Marketing

Hame Persaud has served in progressively responsible positions at companies in the Nutraceutical and Cosmetics markets for over 20 years, nine years of which was at Aveda Corporation, as the Business Assistant to the Founder and CEO. Prior to his current position at Sabinsa, he was Chief Marketing Officer for a major supplier of raw materials, and President of a Biotech Company.

He has helped launch successfully over 20 companies in this market sector, and professionally managed some of these to be sold with high returns for the owners/stakeholders.

Hame oversees sales activities and sales campaigns nationally and works with clients to introduce new ingredients and opportunities, as well as reinforcing the branded ingredients Sabinsa has to offer.

Hame Persaud was educated in England, where he studied Philosophy at Oxford University, and earned an Honors Law degree at the London School of Economics, equivalent to a Juris Doctor in California, New York and Commonwealth countries.

Asha Ramesh

Vice President - Business Development

Asha Ramesh is responsible for co-ordinating with customers, marketing and development of new business. She obtained her MBA with specialization in Marketing Management from Bangalore University, India.

Asha initally worked with the group as Manager - Purchases & Special Projects at Sabinsa's manufacturing facility, Sami Labs Ltd. for 5 years. She is with Sabinsa from January 2000 and tremendously enjoys working with customers. Her qualifications & valuable experience with the group stand in good stead.