Cura Cannabis has appointed Ron Parham as vice president of investor relations.
Parham, who is also chair-elect of NIRI, has held IR roles at Nike and Columbia Sportswear, which he left in October 2017 after nine years with the company. Most recently he served as founder of NW Strategic Communications, which was the second time in his career that he worked as an investor relations consultant, having been managing director of Pondel Wilkinson Parham from 1999 to 2007. He declined to comment for this story.
Cura Cannabis is based in Portland, Oregon and was recently listed by the Portland Business Journal as the fastest-growing private company in the state. In a press release dated October 11, the company announced plans to hire more than 50 mid-level to senior-level professionals. ‘One of the most exciting elements of Cura is that we continue to hire the most incredible people,’ said company president and CEO Cameron Forni in the press release that pre-dates Parham’s appointment.
Industry analysts predict that the combined market for recreational and medicinal marijuana in North America could reach $100 bn within 10 years. In Canada, the government has decriminalized recreational use. In the US, recreational use is legal in nine states and medicinal use is permitted in 30 states, although there are critics – such as Attorney General Jeff Sessions – at the federal level.
In a guest article for IR Magazine earlier this year, Jeffrey Goldberger and Lewis Goldberg, both managing partners at KCSA Strategic Communications, wrote about the investor relations opportunities provided by the legalization of cannabis and called on senior executives to take the ‘green rush’ seriously.
‘Nothing instills greater confidence than surrounding yourself with a formidable team,’ the two wrote. ‘From the senior management team to boards of directors and advisers, we urge cannabis companies to build a team that can help them successfully execute their business plan – and lend an air of credibility.
‘As with the early days of the internet boom, everyone wants in on the ground floor of the cannabis revolution. Shoot for the stars: depending on the situation, you’ll be surprised who you’ll be able to attract.’
