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.