!-- Global site tag (gtag.js) - Google Analytics --> Marijuana Business Magazine March 2020

Marijuana Business Magazine March 2020

Marijuana Business Magazine | March 2020 108 IndustryPlayers | New Hires & Promotions A look at some recent hiring moves in the marijuana industry New Columbia Care Board Members Bring Industry, University Ties New York City-based Columbia Care, one of the largest multistate operators in the nation, tapped a serial C-suite executive and financial specialist as independent directors for its board. Jeff Clarke is executive chair of flo- ral retailer FTD and formerly held the following posts: CEO and director of Eastman Kodak Co., CEO and execu- tive chair of Travelport, chief operating officer of CATechnologies, executive vice president of Hewlett Packard, CFO of Compaq Computer Corp. and board member of several companies. Frank Savage is CEO of Savage Holdings, a financial services company in New York City, and serves on the boards of Bloomberg, the New York Academy of Medicine and the Institute of International Finance. He is also chair emeritus of Howard University, trustee emeritus of Johns Hopkins University and a former board member of Lockheed Martin, Qualcomm, Alliance Capital Management International, Equitable Capital Management Corp. and Arco Chemical. He is also founder of Equitable Life’s Minority Enterprise Investment Co. Ex-Roche Exec Takes Over New Zealand MMJ Firm Longtime Roche executive Rob Mitchell took the reins of New Zealand medical cannabis firm Rua Bioscience, replacing co-founder Manu Caddie as CEO. Mitchell spent most of his career heading global product strategy for Roche, a multinational health-care company. Caddie, who founded Hikurangi Cannabis Co. (renamed Rua Bioscience) in 2016, will continue to lead the company’s regulatory and research divisions. Before joining Rua Bioscience, Mitchell was CEO of Auckland-based biotech firm Caldera Health. Mitchell started Feb. 3; New Zealand’s new medical cannabis program launches April 1. Tilray Taps Molson and Revlon Execs British Columbia, Canada-based license holder Tilray appointed former Molson Coors Beverage Co. and Revlon employees to key positions. Michael Kruteck , who was previously with Molson Coors and Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, is replacing Mark Castaneda as chief financial officer. Castaneda will shift to strategic business development. Jon Levin , who was formerly with cosmetics maker Revlon, takes the chief operating officer reins. By Omar Sacirbey T ired of the cannabis industry’s vol- atility, Alexis Mora left her post as marketing director for San Francis- co-based Bloom Farms in early December and planned a return to the mainstream marketing world she left in 2015. Specif- ically, she had last worked for the Good Solutions Group, a branding agency in Pas- adena, California, where she created award-winning campaigns for Nestle and other well-known clients. But a couple of weeks later, Flower Hire, a cannabis-focused executive recruiting firm in Manhattan Beach, California, called to ask if she would be interested in interviewing for the head marketing post at Harborside, an iconic California retailer that today has four stores. “They had looked at a ton of different candidates, but Harborside being Steve DeAngelo’s baby, I think he was very particular about having someone with cannabis experience,” Mora said. After going through four or five interviews, she started in January. “Harborside being the great brand that they are—and having the heritage that they do—it was an offer that I couldn’t refuse.” Mora’s hire could also point to a growing trend in cannabis recruitment: an increasing availability and demand for executives with both mainstream and marijuana experience. “There is kind of a drastic learning curve for folks that are getting into cannabis for the first time,” Mora said. “For those of us who have been working in this space for a while, there’s definitely a competitive edge having cannabis experience. You’re familiar with the marketing regulations, for example. And, especially in cannabis, a lot of times it’s about who you know and your relationships.” At Haborside, Mora wants to “redefine” cannabis retail. Many marijuana retailers are getting better at building brand presence and customer loyalty, but cannabis-store experiences are still confusing for many consumers, she said. “We should be a place that is approachable for everyone and anyone that is interested in cannabis—whether you are trying it for the first time or you’re someone that is very well versed in it.” Harborside Nabs Bloom Farms Marketing Lead Alexis Mora

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