TerrAscend Announces Leadership Changes and Appoints Jason Ackerman Interim CEO
- Michael Nashat to step down as CEO and remain on Board
- Move solidifies Company’s emphasis on its rapidly scaling U.S. Retail, Manufacturing, and Distribution Operations
TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2020 /CNW/ – TerrAscend Corp. (CSE: TER; OTCQX: TRSSF) (“TerrAscend” or “the Company”), the first and only global cannabis company licensed for sales in the U.S., Canada, and the EU, today announced changes to its leadership team. Jason Ackerman, Executive Chairman of the Company, has been named interim CEO, replacing Michael Nashat, who will continue to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors and act as a strategic advisor to the Company. The changes are effective immediately.
As a Co-founder and leader of TerrAscend since its inception, Nashat is stepping down as the Company expands its U.S. footprint. Michael and the Company’s Board have agreed that a U.S.-based leadership and operations team is necessary to align the Company’s efforts and resources across the rapidly expanding U.S. market. Both Michael and the Board are confident that Jason Ackerman is ready to lead those efforts given his strength in operations and discipline in building businesses.
While it was a difficult decision, I believe given TerrAscend’s premier operating assets in the United States, it is now time for me to step into an advisory role and let new U.S.-based management guide TerrAscend as they expand and scale.
Michael Nashat, Strategic Advisor
“Jason’s experience in omnichannel retail, distribution and operations are skills that TerrAscend will lean on as it enters this new growth phase. In my time working alongside Jason, it is clear that he is the right person to take on this role, and as a large shareholder, I believe this is what is best for securing TerrAscend’s future. I look forward to continuing to advise the Company in my board position and as a strategic advisor,” continued Mr. Nashat.
We are grateful for the hard work and perseverance that Michael Nashat has demonstrated during his tenure as CEO and Co-Founder of TerrAscend. We will continue to value Michael’s technical expertise, commitment to research and pharmaceutical knowledge, as he shifts to a strategic advisory role.
Jason Ackerman, Interim CEO
We remain committed to driving shareholder value and focusing on the areas of our business that are generating rapid growth and greater margins, particularly in our valuable California, Pennsylvania and New Jersey markets. I look forward to building upon the foundation that Michael has laid, and leading the TerrAscend team forward in this next exciting phase.
Mr. Ackerman is an accomplished leader and business builder, who pioneered the development of the on-line grocery industry. In his eighteen years at the helm of FreshDirect, he built the business from the ground up, organically growing the Company to over $600 million in annual sales operating in 7 states. He is well-versed in omnichannel retail strategy as well as business operations, logistics and digital transformation. He is a Senior Advisor for the Boston Consulting Group and on the advisory board of The Naked Market and Hart Dairy. Mr. Ackerman received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Boston University.
The Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”) has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
About TerrAscend
TerrAscend provides quality products, brands, and services to the global cannabinoid market. As the first North American Operator (NAO), with scale operations in both Canada and the US, the Company participates in the medical and legal adult use market across Canada and in several US states where cannabis has been legalized for therapeutic or adult use. TerrAscend is the first and only cannabis company with sales in the US, Canada, and Europe. TerrAscend operates a number of synergistic businesses, including The Apothecarium, an award-winning cannabis dispensary with several retail locations in California; Arise Bioscience Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of hemp-derived products; Ilera Healthcare, Pennsylvania’s premier medical marijuana cultivator, processor and dispenser; Ascendant Laboratories Inc., a biotechnology and licensing company committed to the continuous improvement of cannabinoid expressing plants; Solace RX Inc., a proposed Drug Preparation Premises (DPP) focused on the development of novel formulations and delivery forms; and Valhalla Confections, a manufacturer of premium cannabis-infused edibles. Additionally, TerrAscend holds a cultivation permit in the State of New Jersey and is pending approval for a vertically integrated medical cannabis operation with the ability to operate up to 3 Alternative Treatment Centers. For more information, visit www.terrascend.com.
