MJBiz - November/December 2023 - 78

INDUSTRY PLAYERS New Hires & Promotions
White Steps Down as President of Trulieve Cannabis
Steve White, president of Florida-based Trulieve Cannabis Corp., is exiting the
company two years after joining the marijuana multistate operator through its
acquisition of Harvest Health & Recreation.
While White's departure already has taken effect, he will continue as a strategic
adviser to Trulieve " until his anticipated retirement at the end of this year, " according
to a news release.
White co-founded Phoenix-based MSO Harvest Health, where he also served as
CEO. He joined Trulieve when it acquired Harvest Health through an all-stock deal
valued at more than $2 billion when the acquisition was announced in May 2021.
Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers said in a statement that White " has played a key role
in the success of the integration of Harvest operations with those of Trulieve, " adding that his departure
coincided with " the second anniversary of our historic acquisition. "
IM Cannabis Adds
Uri Birenberg as CFO
IM Cannabis, a medical marijuana
company with operations in Israel
and Germany, announced that Uri
Birenberg joined IMC's leadership
team as chief financial officer on
Oct. 10.
Birenberg brings more than two
decades of experience with financial
planning and analysis to the
role. Before joining IMC, Birenberg
served as CFO of Hygear, a fitness
tech startup where he helped with
fundraising in preparation for the
company's IPO.
Birenberg is replacing Itay Vago,
who will be leaving the position in
November.
Minnesota's Brand-new
Marijuana Regulator Resigns
Erin Dupree, who was appointed
the first director of Minnesota's
Office of Cannabis Management,
resigned before starting the job
after a local media report raised
questions about her background,
including allegations that her
business had sold prohibited
hemp-derived products.
DuPree's appointment by Gov.
Tim Walz was set to take effect
Oct. 2., but she stepped down one
day after her appointment.
According to reports from
Minnesota Public Radio, DuPree's
business, Loonacy Cannabis Co.,
" advertised products with a THC
content far above what was legally
allowed starting in July of 2022. "
The report cited other " irregularities
in DuPree's past, " including
" court judgments against her for
unpaid wages or for work she
failed to perform " as well as liens
for unpaid taxes.
DuPree said in a statement that
she had " never knowingly sold any
noncompliant product " and that
her appointment had " become a
distraction that would stand in the
way of the important work that
needs to be done. "
Charlene Briner will remain in
her role as interim director, the
governor said in a statement.
Curio Wellness
Builds Leadership
Curio Wellness, a vertically
integrated cannabis company
based in Maryland, announced the
promotion of two company leaders
to new roles:
* Brad Friedlander as chief
operating officer.
* Joseph Martin as senior
vice president of operational
excellence.
78 November-December 2023 | MJBizMagazine
Steve White
Friedlander previously served
as Curio's chief information
officer. As COO, he will assume
responsibility for all cultivation
and manufacturing business operations.
He will continue to lead
the engineering, expansion and
information technology teams.
Martin previously held leadership
roles with manufacturing
leaders such as Procter & Gamble
and McCormick and Co. At
Curio, he has led the company's
efforts toward current Good Manufacturing
Practice (cGMP) certification,
compliance, quality and
safety. In his new position, Martin
will focus on developing processes
that ensure consistent practices
in preparation for the company's
expansion into Missouri.
Pedersen Departs Nextleaf
Paul Pedersen, longtime CEO of
Vancouver, British Columbia-based
cannabis firm Nextleaf Solutions,
stepped down from the role,
according to the company's board
of directors. Pedersen will retain his
position on the company's board.
Director of Marketing Emma
Andrews was appointed interim
CEO, according to a news release.
Andrews is a consulting partner
at AbottKeefer Consulting.

MJBiz - November/December 2023

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