MEDIA RELEASE

Parker Ranch Inc. announces the appointment of E. Kyle Datta to the board of directors of Parker Ranch Inc.

He joins other Board members, Michael W. Gibson, James S. Greenwell, Timothy E. Johns, Robert L. Hind III, Neil “Dutch” Kuyper, and B.G. Moynahan (Board Chairman).

Kyle Datta

Datta will replace Herbert “Monty” Richards Jr., who is retiring from the Board of Directors after 13 years of service.

Parker Ranch Inc. is the for-profit corporation that is responsible for managing the cattle operations and the real property development activities on behalf of Parker Ranch Foundation Trust.

Datta is a founding partner of Ulupono Initiative, which invests in three key areas to make Hawaii more sustainable: locally produced food, renewable energy, and waste reduction.

Datta formerly was the CEO of U.S. Biodiesel Group, a national biodiesel firm funded by private equity; Managing Director of Research and Consulting at the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI); and a vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton where he served as managing partner of the firm’s Asia energy practice and head of the U.S. utilities practice.

“We are pleased that Kyle has joined our board of directors,” said Dutch Kuyper, CEO of Parker Ranch Inc. “As one of the largest landowners in the state, Parker Ranch is seeking to deploy land assets and exploring transformative investments in grass-fed beef, diversified agriculture, and renewable energy that could support our broader vision for sustainable communities and our contributions to our beneficiaries. With his expertise in systems thinking and strategy, and his successful business experience in Hawaii, Kyle will be a true asset to Parker Ranch.”

Since 2000, Parker Ranch Inc. has been privileged to have Richards as a member of its board of directors.

Kuyper said of Richards’ time on the board, “We thank him for his vision, leadership and expertise that has assisted us at Parker Ranch in setting a new direction for the future, while always being mindful of our rich ranch history and legacy left behind by Richard Smart. Monty has been a beacon to all of us, guiding us with his insight and strategic thinking. Both Parker Ranch and the ranching industry in Hawaii are in a better place because of Monty.”

A fifth-generation kamaaina, Richards currently serves as the chairman and trustee of Kahua Ranch Ltd.

For more than 50 years, Richards has been the guiding force behind innovation at Kahua Ranch, being a leader and pioneer in Hawaii – using intensified grazing to increase the capacity of the pastures, developing alternative energy sources to power the ranch, diversifying the ranch’s offerings to include sheep and greenhouse vegetables, using artificial insemination to enhance the genetics of the cattle, and promoting agricultural tourism.

His community service includes four terms as a University of Hawaii regent, chairman of the Rural Economic Transition Assistance–Hawaii program, Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, and on the boards of The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Bank of Hawaii and the Agricultural Leadership Foundation.

“I have great respect for Monty’s lifetime of service and leadership in Hawaii’s ranching and business community,” Datta said. “I am honored to follow in his footsteps, although I know that no one can fill Monty’s boots. I’m excited to have the opportunity to help steward Parker Ranch, one of our state’s most venerable institutions, as it continues to grow, adapt and serve as a leader in sustainable food and energy in Hawaii.”

Datta received a master’s degree in public and private management from the Yale School of Organization and Management and a master’s degree in environmental science in resource economics from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. He is co-author of the RMI books “Winning the Oil End Game” and “Small is Profitable.”

Parker Ranch covers 130,000 acres of the Big Island of Hawaii and is one of the largest cow-calf operations in the US.

Parker Ranch is one of the largest and oldest cattle ranches in the United States. Parker Ranch Inc. is owned by Parker Ranch Foundation Trust whose beneficiaries are four non-profits: North Hawaii Community Hospital, Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Parker School and Hawaii Community Foundation.

Ulupono Initiative is a Hawaii-focused impact investing firm that uses for-profit and non-profit investments to improve the quality of life for island residents in three areas – locally produced food; clean, renewable energy; and waste reduction.

— Find out more:
www.parkerranch.com
www.ulupono.com