MJBizMag September 2020 - 108

IndustryPlayers | New Hires & Promotions
By Omar Sacirbey
A look at some recent
hiring moves in the
marijuana industry
Bringing the Language of Food to Cannabis
M
ichael Highdale started his tenure as chief
operating officer of 48North, a Torontobased
license holder, in late July. But his
first day likely would have arrived much sooner had
it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic and his
previous post as vice president of operations at
Sofina Foods, a major food-services company based
in Markham, Ontario.
He was introduced to 48North CEO Charles
Vennat by " an industry player " much earlier in the
year and met with him several times throughout the
pandemic. " However, working in food and beverage,
you can imagine I was incredibly busy during the
first few months of the pandemic. Before joining
(48North), I needed to ensure my former company
was in a good place, " he told Marijuana Business
Magazine via email.
Now that Highdale is officially COO of the cannabis
company, he plans to use some of the lessons he
learned at Sofina.
" There are many learnings that can be adopted
from other industries and transplanted (to the
Danielle
Perry
cannabis business)
with success, " he said.
" For example, in food
and beverage I was
focused on streamlining
operations within a costefficient
environment;
this makes sense for
cannabis as well. "
Yet, Highdale
acknowledged he has
some learning to do.
" I did not arrive at 48North with a significant
amount of cannabis experience. I see this as a
benefit: I have a fresh set of eyes, and I look forward
to leveraging this clean slate, " he said. " That said, I
have a very talented team with significant cannabis
experience. I look forward to learning from them and
other players in the industry. "
He added: " It is my focus to further build a
manufacturing and operational team/facility that is
agile, nimble and cost-effective. "
new licensing round that will add to the
number of legal marijuana businesses.
Before accepting the Illinois
post, Perry oversaw an agriculture
job training program, served as
communications director at the
Chicago Inspector General's office,
was a member of Chicago Mayor Lori
Lightfoot's transition committee and
served in President Barack Obama's
Department of Agriculture.
Perry Named Illinois
Cannabis Oversight Officer
Gov. J.B. Pritzker appointed former
Obama administration insider Danielle
Perry as Illinois' cannabis regulation
oversight officer. Perry takes over for
former state Sen. Toi Hutchinson.
Perry takes the reins as
entrepreneurs await results from a
New CFO for BC Company
Vancouver, British Columbia-based
1933 Industries-a vertically integrated
cannabis company with operations
in California, Colorado and Nevada-
appointed Tricia Kaelin as its new
chief financial officer. She replaces
outgoing CFO Stephen Radusch.
Kaelin has held multiple CFO
posts including eight years at Smart
Business Solutions, an accounting
and businesses services company.
David
McCullough
Akerna Gets New
Chief Technology Officer
Akerna, a cannabis-focused
software company based in Denver,
appointed David McCullough chief
technology officer. McCullough has
been with Akerna for more than
five years, most recently serving as
Akerna's executive vice president of
product and engineering.
108 Marijuana Business Magazine | September 2020
Michael Highdale
MJBizMag September 2020

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