Newstrike Brands Bolsters Executive Team with Senior Level Appointments
TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2019 /CNW/ - Newstrike Brands Ltd. (TSX-V:HIP) ("Newstrike" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has strengthened its senior management ranks with the appointment of the following hires to focus on the execution of the company's strategic growth plan: Mark E. Burton as Chief Strategy Officer, Sylvie Levesque as Chief Marketing Officer, and Trevor Folk as Vice President, New Products. Additionally, Peter Hwang will transition from Chief Commercial Officer to President.
To Newstrike, Mark Burton brings an illustrious career spanning more than three decades, with previous roles including CEO of five separate technology companies, two of which were TSX-listed, and three of which were venture capital-backed private companies. Following his operational executive roles, he was a partner at KPMG in Toronto, advising clients on operations and strategy. Prior to his business career he was an Associate at the U.S. law firm Mayer Brown & Platt, before moving on to the prominent Canadian law firm Stikeman Elliott where he was a Partner specializing in corporate law, securities law and M&A.
Mark's mandate at Newstrike includes strategic partnerships, M&A, business development and product innovation, in addition to setting the Company's overall strategic direction.
Mark holds a science degree (B.Sc. with Honours) from Queen's University and obtained his law degree (LL.B. with Distinction) from Western University.
Sylvie Levesque is a seasoned marketing executive with a 25-year career spanning consumer packaged goods and alcohol beverages in Canada and abroad. Sylvie joins Newstrike from Treasury Wine Estates (TWE), a leading global wine company, where she was General Manager, Canada, overseeing a portfolio of over 50 wineries. Sylvie spent close to 9 years at TWE, holding various marketing and innovation roles, including global brand responsibilities on iconic wines such as Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Lindeman's. Prior to TWE, Sylvie held senior sales, marketing and innovation roles at Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, Molson and Unilever, working on globally renowned brands such as Dove, Polysporin, Listerine, Molson Export and Miller Lite.
Sylvie is tasked with leading the go-to-market strategy for Newstrike as it focuses on bringing a portfolio of new, innovative products to market. She will continue to build on the strong branding foundation developed to date and position Newstrike as a market leader for premium Cannabis products in Canada's adult use market.
Sylvie holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen's University.
Trevor Folk co-founded HydRx, one of the first companies in Canada to operate as a Licensed Producer and Licensed Dealer on the same site for the purpose of cannabis derivate product research, development and commercialization. As an early investor and entrepreneur in the cannabis sector, he led the company as CEO until October 2017 after the company achieved its Health Canada Dealer License in October 2016, and ACMPR cultivation license in September 2017.
Trevor specializes in industrial scale "Full Spectrum" cold ethanol extraction technology first developed in the California markets and recently adapted for the Canadian market regulations in advance of adult use edibles, extracts and beverages being launched later in 2019. Trevor will be tasked with leading the production of Full Spectrum and Specialty Isolates that will allow Newstrike to develop innovative and exciting products for launch in 2019 and beyond.
As Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Hwang has been building the team and infrastructure as the Company has transitioned from early stage development to commercialization and under his leadership, the Company has executed against every operational milestone it has set out. As President, Operations, Peter will continue to lead all commercial activities in Sales, Marketing and Operations, as Newstrike and its family of brands continues to build on its objective to become Canada's Cannabis Company and execute against its 4 strategic pillars of Brand, Production, Distribution and Innovation.
"This is a very exciting time for Newstrike and our flagship brand, Up Cannabis. We have been working diligently on many facets of the business to build accretive shareholder value. The addition of these senior level appointments will only continue this positive momentum going into 2019," said Jay Wilgar, Chief Executive Officer of Newstrike. "I could not be happier with our strategic direction as we work diligently towards taking our Company to the next level."
About Newstrike and Up Cannabis
Newstrike is the parent company of Up Cannabis Inc., a licensed producer of cannabis that is licensed to both cultivate and sell cannabis in all acceptable forms. Newstrike, through Up Cannabis and together with select strategic partners, including Canada's iconic musicians The Tragically Hip, is developing a diverse network of high quality cannabis brands. For more information, visit http://www.up.ca or http://www.newstrike.ca
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Newstrike to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Newstrike's expectations with respect to the supply, distribution and sales of cannabis. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties.
Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date.
Newstrike does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf, except as required by applicable law.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Newstrike Brands Ltd.
Newstrike Investor Relations, 1-877-541-9151, [email protected]; Jay Wilgar, CEO, Newstrike Brands, (905) 844-8866
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