Canopy Growth Corporation Company Profile
Headquartered in Smiths Falls, Ontario, and formerly known as Tweed Marijuana, Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX:WEED) (NYSE:CGC) is a medical cannabis company that undertakes everything from product innovation to market execution. Growing, producing, and selling medical cannabis, Canopy Growth operates several brands, each supported by indoor and greenhouse cannabis production. In addition to operations in Canada, Canopy Growth is involved in the business in Jamaica, Spain, Brazil, Australia, and Chile.
Aside from striving to provide cannabis consumers with the best possible experience, Canopy Growth is all about being first.
In 2014, Canopy Growth became the first North American cannabis company to be publicly traded. In 2018, the New York Stock Exchange listed the stock, making it the first cannabis company to achieve this status. It was the company’s business strategies and substantial financial numbers that allowed it to secure a place on this exchange.
Away from the markets, Canopy Growth Corporation became the first cannabis company to enter into a strategic relationship with a Fortune 500 company. Tweed, now a Canopy Growth subsidiary, was the first to introduce the concept of Compassionate Pricing, making medical cannabis economical.
From hemp operations, high-quality research facilities, fighting for a patient's right to grow at home, and a commitment to drive the industry forward, Canopy Growth has the vision to become the number one cannabis company in the world. And the company is on track to do this. As of September 2018, Canopy Growth was the largest cannabis company, based on market capitalization, in the world.
Meet the Canopy Growth Corporation Team
Bruce Linton
Founder, Chairman, and Co-Ceo
An integral part of Canopy Growth's team, Bruce Linton is focused on driving forward both Canadian and international expansion efforts for the company. He is helping Canopy Growth prepare for moving fully into cannabis-based consumer products, including beverages.
Linton began his career at Newbridge Networks Corporation. His journey to Canopy Growth included such positions as General Manager and Re-Founder of Computerland.ca, and President and Co-Founder of webHancer Corp. Linton was also a part of the establishing team at CrossKeys Systems Corporation.
Mark Zekulin
President and Co-CEO
From the beginning, Mark Zekulin has been pushing Canopy Growth and Tweed further and further. Zekulin watches over Canopy's medical and patient outreach strategy, while also driving operations and advancing corporate market strategy.
Zekulin has previously worked in law, politics, and strategic advice. He has also worked internationally at the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Tim Saunders
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
A finance executive with international experience in public companies, as well as private equity-backed start-ups, Tim Saunders focuses on business transformation and forward thinking to advance business capability and business model.
Since joining Canopy Growth, Saunders has handled several financings that have raised $6 billion and also increased production capacity, brand strength, and Canopy's global business footprint. Saunders was also an integral part of the Company's uplisting to the Toronto Stock Exchange as well as the New York Stock Exchange.
Phil Shaer
Chief Legal Officer
Phil Shaer is responsible for the reporting obligations the Company has due to its status as a publicly traded TSX listed company. He is also in charge of all other legal needs that Canopy Growth has, as well as being the leader of the human resources department.
Previously, Shaer worked as General Counsel and lead in-house attorney at Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc. In 2008, he received the Ottawa Business Journal's Top 40 under 40 Award, and in 2011, he was a finalist in Lexpert®’s Rising Stars—Leading Lawyers Under 40.
Rade Kovacevic
Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Canada
Rade Kovacevic handles Canopy Growth's Canadian strategy, watching over all operations in this wing. He was formerly Canopy's Senior Vice President, Sales & Operations.
Kovacevic received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph where he focused on Management Economics and Industry Finance. With a history of bringing key stakeholders together on marijuana policies, Kovacevic was well placed as the Co-Founder and former President of the Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries, as well as a Co-Founder and former Advocacy Committee Chair on the Canadian Medical Cannabis Industry Association.
Amanda Daley
Vice President Medical
Amanda Daley is in charge of Canopy's medical strategy, which includes the medical sales team and creation and implementing continuing medical education (CME) programs for healthcare professionals.
Before her journey at Canopy Growth Corporation started, Daley was involved in the pharmaceutical industry for 15 years. During that time, she was involved in both sales and medical education, including a position as Regional Manager, Health Education for Pfizer Canada.
Tom Shipley
Senior Vice President, Global Quality Assurance and Chief Science Officer
Tom Shipley works to ensure safety and quality in all of Canopy Growth's products. With knowledge and experience in toxicology, biopharmaceuticals, and drug regulations, Shipley is well positioned for his role at the Company.
Shipley has worked with Health Canada, focusing on both toxicology research and, later, vaccine production practices and testing. He studied Biopharmaceutical Sciences, with a specialty in Genomics, at the University of Ottawa.
David Bigioni
Chief Commercial Officer, Recreational Cannabis
Before joining Canopy Growth Corporation, David Bigioni worked as Vice-President of Marketing and as Vice-President of Sales for Molson Coors. While there, Bigioni helped to increase Molson's brand valuation by $137 million over a 6-year period.
Highly regarded as a change agent with excellent motivation skills, Bigioni graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing) and a minor in Economics.
Ru Wadasinghe
Chief Information Officer
Ru Wadasinghe has garnered experience from a variety of career opportunities. After earning a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Carleton University and a Master's degree in Business from the University of Ottawa, Wadasinghe's journey began at Nortel Networks where he held leadership positions in product management, IT, and operations.
After 20 years at Nortel, he joined March Networks where he worked as Chief Information Officer and, later, Vice President of Professional Services. From there, Wadasinghe moved into his current position as CIO at Canopy Growth where he is thriving.
Peter Popplewell, PhD
Chief Technology Officer
As Canopy Growth's Chief Technology Officer, Peter Popplewell, PhD, leads the R&D team that develops novel cannabis delivery systems with a focus on consumer safety and transparency. Popplewell previously worked at Nortel, Kleer Semiconductor, and Skyworks Solutions, focusing on design engineering and management.
Popplewell graduated from Carleton University with a PhD in Electrical Engineering. He has more than ten issued US patents, with more filed and pending, and he also has over a dozen publications in peer-reviewed IEEE journals and conference proceedings.
Dave Pryce
Vice President, International Market Expansion and Government Relations
In his position at Canopy Growth Corporation, Dave Pryce is responsible for bringing the Company into new markets by growing its footprint and driving its rapid global expansion. While at Canopy, Pryce is also on the Board of Directors of WoodGreen Community Services, the York University School of Public Policy and Administration Advisory Committee, the Board of Directors of the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce, and on the Advisory Board of Sound Diplomacy.
Pryce's previous experience includes senior advisor to the Premier of Ontario, Ontario Minister of Finance, and the Canadian Minister of Industry, as well as senior positions at both BlackBerry and D2L.
Ingrid Johansson
Vice President, Finance Administration
In her role, Ingrid Johansson is responsible for the Company's financial systems, accounting operations, and financial planning capabilities. Johansson is also in charge of the Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR) program.
Johansson has held previous roles in the high tech and cleantech industries; she worked as the Director Internal Controls at Zarlink Semiconductor and was a project manager at Plasco Energy Group.
Ann Gordon
VP, Corporate Finance
Ann Gordon oversees all external financial reporting, while also working to ensure that compliance is met with International Financial Reporting Standards. Gordon leads Canopy's development of global tax strategies and ensures compliance is met with filing requirements. She is also in charge of directing and managing treasury related activities for Canopy Growth Corporation.
Gordon started out as an Audit Manager at KPMG. She later moved into a Chief Financial Officer role for a venture capital fund. Before joining Canopy, Gordon was Senior Manager at Deloitte for its National Capital Region Assurance and Advisory Services Practice.
Dr. Mark A. Ware MBBS MRCP (UK) MSC
Chief Medical Officer
As the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mark A. Ware is in charge of the advancement of research and Spectrum Cannabis, which is Canopy Growth's global medical cannabis brand.
Dr. Ware still practices pain medicine at the McGill University Health Center, and he is also an Associate Professor in Family Medicine and Anesthesia at McGill University. Dr. Ware is an advisor on medical cannabis policy to the Canadian government.