MJBiz - July 2023 - 46

INDUSTRY PLAYERS New Hires & Promotions
Dennis
Curran
Coffee Mogul Joins
MJ Accessories Team
Keurig founder Peter Dragone
has joined the executive team of
a startup cannabis accessories
maker in Kentucky that's aiming
to begin its first funding round.
Dragone, who introduced
Acreage Holdings Promotes
Chief Operating Officer to CEO
New York-based cannabis multistate
operator Acreage Holdings
announced that Dennis Curran, the
company's chief operating officer
since March 2022, will assume the
role of CEO starting July 1.
Curran will replace Peter Caldini,
who was appointed CEO in December
2020.
Curran has more than 35 years
of experience in distribution, marketing
and sales, having held the
role of chief customer officer at
GSK Consumer Health and leadership
roles at consumer packaged
goods giant Procter & Gamble.
Kevin Murphy, founder and chair
of Acreage, said in a news release,
" Since joining Acreage, Dennis has
led several successful initiatives and
provided the leadership required to
optimize the company's operational
footprint. "
In 2019, Canadian cannabis firm
Canopy Growth Corp. announced a
deal to buy Acreage Holdings for
$3.4 billion.
That agreement was amended in
June 2020 with a sale price closer to
$900 million, analysts said.
In a news release announcing
his new role, Curran said he looked
forward to guiding Acreage " on
our journey to be a critical part of
Canopy USA. "
Acreage also announced that
Steve Goertz resigned from his
position as chief financial officer.
The company has initiated a search
process to fill the role.
Deborah
Saneman
Würk Selects
Saneman as CEO
Denver-based Würk, a
cannabis industry human
capital management company,
announced that Deborah
Saneman was appointed chief
executive officer. Saneman
replaces Scott Kenyon, who will
remain executive chair.
46 July 2023 | MJBizMagazine
K-Cups to the market in 2004,
has taken a role as equity partner
of Convenient Cannabis, the
maker of Puffsy pods.
The single-serve pods,
made of recyclable glass, are
preloaded with cannabis and fit
most standard bongs and pipes.
Dragone is not an investor in
Convenient Cannabis, according
to Convenient Cannabis CEO and
founder Zechariah Corcimiglia.
But as " acting CFO and
strategic adviser, " he will play
a key role connecting the
company with potential backers.
The company is looking to
raise $1 million on a $10 million
valuation, Corcimiglia said.
Saneman has served as chief
operating officer at Würk for
nearly two years. Before Würk,
she spent two decades in
financial services, consulting and
payroll and served as president
of the Independent Payroll Providers
Association.
Rhode Island Governor
Appoints Commission
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee
announced three appointments
to the Cannabis Control
Commission, which will oversee
regulation, licensing and control
of the state's medical marijuana
and adult-use markets. The
state launched regulated
marijuana sales on Dec. 1, 2022.
McKee's nominees, who must
be approved by the Rhode
Island Senate, include:
* Kimberly Ahern, chair:
Current deputy chief of
staff for McKee and former
deputy counsel for the
office of former Gov. Gina
Raimondo.
* Robert Jacquard: A selfemployed
attorney who
served for 22 years with
the Cranston (Rhode Island)
Police Department and as
state representative from
1993 until 2021.
* Layi Oduyingbo: The
owner, founder and managing
attorney at a law firm
in Cranston, who previously
served as corporate counsel
handling compliance and
governance matters.
Item 9 Labs Cutting
$3.5M in Restructuring
Vertically integrated cannabis
producer and retailer Item 9
Labs Corp. has initiated a
restructuring plan that includes
cutting expenses by $3.5 million
and an executive shake-up.
MJBiz - July 2023

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