(Hired or promoted someone for a senior-level position? Send a news release or general information about the move to editorial@mjbizdaily.com.)
A look at some hiring moves in the cannabis industry in 2025:
Cannabis attorney Shane Pennington changes firms
Shane Pennington, a prominent attorney in the cannabis and administrative law sectors, is changing law firms.
He has accepted a partnership with Philadelphia-based Blank Rome, where he will be based in the firm’s Houston office and will work with the Cannabis and Life Sciences industry teams as well the Business Litigation group and the Appellate Litigation practice, according to an April 2 news release.
Pennington, whose focus is appeals and challenges to federal agency actions, wrote the Jan. 6 filing in which cannabis operators Village Farms International and Hemp for Victory sought to disqualify the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration from overseeing the marijuana rescheduling hearing, which has since been paused.
He formerly worked in the Washington, D.C., office of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur.
Safe Harbor Financial appoints chief of investor relations, data science
Mike Regan, an investment analyst and finance executive, has been hired as head of investor relations and data science by Safe Harbor Financial, a Colorado-based fintech and financial-services provider for the cannabis industry.
Regan’s role will be to “help investors gain a deeper understanding of the Company’s growth initiatives, while also spearheading the development of innovative, differentiated new products leveraging Safe Harbor’s extensive databases,” according to a March 20 news release.
He has worked in research at Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and hedge funds Roubaix Capital and Hawkshaw Capital.
Since 2019, Regan has focused on the regulated marijuana industry at Excelsior Equities and MJResearchCo, both of which he founded, and MJBizDaily, where he served as equity research analyst.
Cronos Group promotes Anna Shlimak to CFO
Canadian cannabis operator Cronos Group promoted Anna Shlimak to chief financial officer, effective March 19.
She succeeds James Holm, who is leaving the company to “pursue other opportunities,” according to a March 19 news release, but will remain with Cronos through April 18.
Shlimak previously served as the Toronto-based company’s chief strategy officer.
Before joining Cronos in 2018, she served as headed investor relations at New York-based alternative investment firm Quest Partners, now known as AlphaQuest.
Glass House Brands hires vice president of investor relations
Glass House Brands, a major vertically integrated California marijuana company, has appointed Jon DeCourcey as vice president of investor relations.
DeCourcey began his new role on March 3, according to a March 5 news release.
Before accepting the position at Long Beach-based Glass House, he was head of investor relations at Ayr Wellness, a Miami-headquartered multistate operator.
DeCourcey also has “held several equity research roles with a focus on the cannabis sector at BTIG, Viridian Capital Advisors and Canaccord Genuity,” the release noted.
Trulieve Cannabis installs James Pernell as president
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. co-founder James Pernell has been appointed president of the Florida-based marijuana multistate operator.
Pernell, who co-founded Trulieve with CEO Kim Rivers in 2015, has more than 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and cannabis operator, according to a Feb. 27 news release.
“Jason has been instrumental in the growth and success of this organization over the past decade,” Rivers said in a statement.
“Most recently, Jason has played an integral part in the outstanding performance achieved in Florida.”
Cannabis advocacy group NCIA appoints board chair
The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) unanimously elected Adam Rosenberg as chair of the organization’s board of directors.
Rosenberg is the first to be elected chair in his first term as an NCIA board member, according to a Feb. 25 news release.
He is a partner and executive adviser with Vlasic Bioscience, a Michigan-based, cannabis-focused company, as well as president of Vegan Minerals, which produces organic and vegan products made of minerals and amino acids.
According to the release, Rosenberg has “experience spanning the entire cannabis supply chain.”
Rabinovich replaces Barak as InterCure board chair
Alexander Rabinovich is replacing Ehud Barak as chair of the board of directors at InterCure, a cannabis producer based in Herzliya, Israel.
The change will be effective Feb. 13, according to a Feb. 12 news release.
Rabinovich served as InterCure’s CEO for the past five years, “executing hundreds of percentages of profitable growth, building strategic international partnerships, and establishing InterCure’s position as a leader in pharmaceutical cannabis,” the release noted.
Barak, 83, served as the company’s board chair for six years.
Jena Murray is U.S. Hemp Roundtable’s new leader
The U.S. Hemp Roundtable, a national organization that represents the interests of the hemp industry in Washington, D.C., has appointed 10 new members to provide input and oversight in 2025.
The newest officers include investors, policymakers, executives with experience in consumer-packaged goods and advocates, according to a Feb. 7 news release.
The Roundtable’s new president is Jena Murray, who serves as director of quality and regulatory at California-headquartered Medterra CBD.
The organization’s new executive vice president is Art Massolo, the vice president of business development at the Seattle-based Cycling Frog cannabis brand.
“The new officer slate reflects a diverse range of perspectives, ensuring that the U.S. Hemp Roundtable continues to be a powerful advocate for the industry’s growth and success,” the organization said in a statement.
Marijuana Policy Project taps Lauren Daly as interim executive director
Lauren Daly, who got her first taste of cannabis advocacy in 2013 as a membership assistant at Marijuana Policy Project, is returning to the Washington, D.C.-based organization as interim executive director.
After eight months with the MPP, Daly joined another advocacy group, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, as a development officer and, in 2017, became the SSDP’s development director, according to a Feb. 5 news release.
Before returning to the MPP, she managed a multimillion-dollar donor portfolio at Brown University.
Daly will assume the role held by Matthew Schweich since 2023, when Toi Hutchinson stepped down from the president/CEO role she took in 2021.
Schweich will return to his role of deputy director, according to the release.
Tiana Arriaga joins Standard Wellness as VP of product and marketing
Tiana Arriaga is the new vice president of product and marketing at Standard Wellness, a marijuana multistate operator based in Cleveland.
Arriaga will lead Standard’s marketing initiatives, brand development and product strategy, according to a Feb. 5 news release.
She most recently served as chief product officer at Miss Grass, a California-based company focused on cannabis genetics and solventless offerings, the release noted.
Agrify adds Peter Shapiro, Sanjay Tolia to its board
Peter Shapiro and Sanjay Tolia have joined the board of directors at Agrify Corp., a cannabis cultivation and extraction solutions company based in Troy, Michigan.
In addition, Richard Drexler has exited the board, according to a Feb. 5 news release.
All three moves were effective Jan. 31.
Shapiro is “an independent music entrepreneur” who has owned and/or operated music venues such as the Brooklyn Bowl, The Capitol Theatre, Wetlands Preserve and the Bearsville Theater, the release noted.
Tolia co-founded Marine Layer Advisors and cannabis-focused hedge fund Bengal Capital, where she serves as managing director, according to the release.
Brad Asher stepping down as Ayr Wellness’ chief financial officer
(This item was updated March 24 with Asher’s departure date and his interim replacement.)
Brad Asher is resigning as chief financial officer at Miami-based Ayr Wellness.
He is leaving to pursue “another opportunity,” according to a Feb 3 news release.
Initially, Ayr said Asher’s last day “… will be effective at a mutually agreed upon date” after the company has filed its financial statements for 2024.
However, on March 24, the company issued another release saying Asher’s final day was “effective March 23.”
The latter release also noted that Ayr’s board of directors appointed Donna Granato as interim CFO, effective immediately.
Granato had 25-plus years of experience in corporate finance and operations, according to the release, having most recently served as CFO of digital advertising firm Vivvix.
Terry Mendez to replace retiring Sundie Seefried as Safe Harbor CEO
Business transformation expert Terry Mendez will become CEO of Safe Harbor Financial after Sundie Seefried retires from the cannabis financial services company in the next 30 days.
Seefried and Mendez will serve as co-CEOs of the Golden, Colorado-based firm during the transition, according to a Jan. 30 news release.
After the transition, Seefried will continue to serve on Safe Harbor’s board of directors.
Roeland Coopman appointed CCO at Ridder
Roeland Coopman has been installed as chief commercial officer at Ridder, a Netherlands-based company that offers climate, water and management technology for greenhouses, including those in the medical cannabis industry.
He will start his new role on Feb. 3, according to a Jan. 28 news release.
Roeland most recently served as CCO and chief strategy officer at another Netherlands agricultural company, Agrifac Machinery B.V.
Marijuana operator Ayr Wellness promotes COO to president
Miami-based marijuana multistate operator Ayr Wellness promoted Chief Operating Officer George DeNardo to the role of president.
As president, DeNardo will oversee companywide operations including cultivation, manufacturing, retail, wholesale and marketing, according to a Jan. 27 news release.
He is stepping into a role that opened in September when David Goubert resigned as Ayr’s president and CEO.
Cannabis analyst joins Leef Brands
Jesse Redmond, a former cannabis analyst, hedge fund manager and marijuana retail operator, is joining Leef Brands as head of investor relations and business development.
In his new role, Redmond will “leverage his extensive industry expertise and financial acumen to build relationships with investors and accelerate business growth opportunities,” according to a Jan. 21 news release from Leef, a cannabis extraction company with offices in Willits, California, and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Redmond, based in California, has been working as a marijuana analyst and head of cannabis at Water Tower Research, an investment advisory firm.
Leef also announced it has received its 2025 cultivation licenses from the California Department of Cannabis Control, clearing “the way for the planting of Salisbury Canyon Ranch this spring.”
“Once fully operational, the 187-acre site will be one of the largest cannabis farms in the world,” the release noted.
Super Bowl winner joins Leafwell
NFL veteran and cannabis industry entrepreneur and activist Marvin Washington has joined Leafwell as an adviser.
In his new role, Washington – who was a member of the Denver Broncos team that won Super Bowl XXXIII – will “lead conversations with players’ unions to integrate cannabis consultations and treatments into the health benefits negotiated through collective bargaining agreements, providing tailored solutions to the unique health challenges faced by athletes and their families,” according to a Jan. 14 news release from Leafwell.
Leafwell is a virtual cannabis care clinic based in Miami.
California infusion company hires Abbot veteran
Dr. Gul Konuklar has been hired as vice president of research and development at Vertosa.
The Berkeley, California-based company creates emulsions and other active ingredients for infused cannabis products makers.
Konuklar, whose specialties include lab design, will work closely with Dr. Harold Han, a co-founder and chief science officer at Vertosa, to “spearhead initiatives to enhance Vertosa’s product offerings” and “expand the intellectual property portfolio,” according to a Jan. 9 news release.
iAnthus removes ‘interim’ from CFO’s title
Financial services veteran Justin Vu has been appointed permanent chief financial officer at iAnthus Capital Holdings, a cannabis multistate operator with offices in New York and Toronto.
Vu was appointed interim CFO on April 5, 2024, after joining iAnthus in early 2023 as a senior vice president of finance, according to a Jan. 6 news release.
Before entering cannabis, Vu held senior finance posts with different companies.
Among his stops was a nine-year stint at Warner Entertainment, where Vu spent almost two years in the role of director of global finance.
