Around the industry for April 9

Organigram announces management changes

Organigram Holdings Inc. has announced that James Cavanagh has been appointed as the company’s chief of staff. Mr. Cavanagh, formerly a strategy and operations consultant with PwC, will work directly with Organigram’s executive team. The company also announced the following appointments and departures:

• Plant manager Matt Rogers and HR director Tina Shannon have been added to the Company’s senior management team.
• Company veteran Ray Gracewood will now serve as senior vice-president, marketing and communications, overseeing both medical and adult recreational brands as well as corporate communications.
• Helen Martin, who was recently appointed as corporate secretary, is being promoted to senior vice-president, strategic and legal affairs.
• Mike Tripp, the company’s chief legal officer, and Guillermo Delmonte, president of the international division, have left Organigram to pursue other opportunities.

Organigram also announced that it will release its second-quarter, 2019, earnings before the opening of markets on April 15.

– Staff

Khiron names Duran to lead JV with Dixie Brands

Less than one month after announcing a joint venture with Dixie Brands, Toronto-based Khiron Life Sciences has tapped Rodrigo Duran to lead the project. Previously the consumer brands director for Team Foods, Mr. Duran will be responsible for leading efforts to sell Dixie’s cannabis-infused food and drink products in Khiron’s key Latin American markets. In the same announcement, Khiron also said Luis Chavas and Rodrigo Azócar will be joining the company as country managers for Mexico and Chile respectively. Both men have backgrounds in the pharmaceutical industry. Back at Khiron’s Canadian headquarters, the hiring of John Cooke – formerly of Beacon Securities and Paradigm Capital – as vice president of corporate development pushes the company’s total headcount past 200 employees.

– Jameson Berkow

Former Apotex CEO Jack Kay joins Cannara Biotech

Cannara Biotech said Monday that veteran pharmaceutical executive Jack Kay has joined the company’s board of directors. Over 35 years at Apotex Inc., Mr. Kay held various roles, including CEO, chief operating officer, president, and vice-chairman. He has also served on a number of pharmaceutical and biotech boards, including as the chairman of Helix Biopharma Corp and Cangene Corp, and a director at Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. “A strong and independent board is not only vital for a successful public company, it can serve as a competitive advantage in the battlefield of commerce and growth,” said Zohar Krivorot, president and CEO of Cannara Biotech. “Jack’s track record of developing new products, launching them in Canada and elsewhere, nurturing global partnerships and spearheading a 10,000-person organization speaks for itself.”

– Staff