ZUG, Switzerland, April 4, 2023 /CNW/ - Essence Investment AG (“Essence” or the “Company”), a leading Swiss holding Company investing in the growth of the European cannabis industry, announces the appointment of Rico Uesluek as Chief Executive Officer of its portfolio company, Marry Jane AG (“MJ”). Mr. Uesluek will assume the role on 1 April and will be joined by Christoph Tepr as MJ’s new Vice President of Sales. The appointments of two noted consumer product veterans to MJ’s leadership team come as the liberalization of Europe’s cannabis markets gains momentum. Already operating at cashflow positive, MJ’s sophisticated cultivation and manufacturing facility in Breitenbach, Switzerland, is an exceptionally competitive platform which builds high-quality branded offerings featuring a range of rich terpene and cannabis profiles. Afrim Saliu, the entrepreneurial and engineering leader who pioneered MJ’s development, welcomed his new colleagues, “Rico’s track record speaks to his exceptional competence at executing and driving sustainable growth while building high-performing teams. Both Rico and Chris inspire deep trust in partners and bring us a passionate commitment to customers that will be the hallmark of the Marry Jane brand.” Mr. Uesluek joins MJ from Munich’s Whacky Food Company, a superfood start-up he founded following a combined thirteen years of experience in senior leadership positions with Logitech and Coca-Cola. Prior to his move to MJ, Mr. Tepr was Juul’s Senior Sales Director for EMEA, a position that capitalized on a career that featured multiple roles with Philip Morris. “We are thrilled to bring together this kind of leadership,” said Henricus J. Stander III, a Member of the Board of Directors of Essence. “The developmental and operational successes of the MJ team mark Afrim Saliu and his brother Kujtim Saliu as stand-out talents in the global cannabis industry. Adding the demonstrated skills in brand-building, distribution and marketing that Rico and Chris bring, MJ could not be betterpositioned for the consumer-led growth we see in European markets.” Essence Investment Appoints Rico Uesluek as Marry Jane AG CEO Respected industry veteran to lead Horizons ETFs through next chapter of growth. The Board of Directors of Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. (“Horizons ETFs”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Rohit Mehta as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Horizons ETFs, effective May 1, 2023. Horizons ETFs’ interim CEO, Jasmit Bhandal, will continue with the organization as Chief Operating Officer and as a Director. A well-known name in the Canadian investment fund and asset management sectors for over two decades, Mr. Mehta is a proven leader with an unparalleled track record in product innovation and realizing businesses’ full growth potential. Most recently, Mr. Mehta served as Senior Vice President, Head of Distribution, Guardian Retail Asset Management for Guardian Capital LP, and as Executive Vice President, Head of Marketing, Product and Data Analytics for CI Financial Corp. “Rohit brings extensive and diverse experience in the investment fund, wealth and asset management sectors, as well as a record of demonstrated success to Horizons ETFs,” said Thomas Park, Director of Horizons ETFs and Co-CEO of Mirae Asset Global Investments (USA). “After a thorough search by our Board, we are thrilled to welcome Rohit to Horizons ETFs and the Mirae Asset family and look forward to benefitting from his unique expertise in bringing brands to their next level of competitive growth.” Mr. Mehta has served in a variety of senior leadership roles at leading Canadian asset management firms, where he spearheaded industry and Canadian firsts that have helped the investment community better meet investors’ evolving needs, while also significantly growing organizational assets in an increasingly competitive landscape. During his time leading Guardian Capital’s distribution business, the firm built an ETF platform and modernized its mutual fund offerings and also launched a first-of-its-kind retirement suite. While serving as Executive Vice President at CI Financial, he launched many of the firm’s most successful funds, including its liquid alternatives business. Additionally, Mr. Mehta served as President of First Asset where he grew the business from $3 billion to $10 billion in only three years. “Today’s investment landscape is unlike any that we’ve seen before. Staying ahead requires a capable, experienced and talented executive team that is willing to push boundaries and drive product innovation to meet the unique needs of the modern investor,” said Young Kim, Head of Global Business at Mirae Asset Global Investments. “We have the utmost confidence in Rohit and in his capacity as President & CEO of Horizons ETFs to answer this call, while effectively navigating rapidly evolving conditions. His depth of experience, commitment to innovation and dedication to investors strongly align with our core values, and we are thrilled to welcome him aboard.” “I’m excited to join Horizons ETFs at a pivotal moment for our industry and look forward to working alongside this worldclass team through our next chapter and beyond,” said Mr. Mehta. “Horizons ETFs has always been uniquely dedicated to providing Canadians with diverse solutions that suit every investor need, level of investor experience and investment objective. Today’s market headwinds mean Canadian advisors and investors need the commitment to product excellence, innovation and accessibility for which Horizons ETFs is renowned – a commitment that I share.” Mr. Mehta succeeds Jasmit Bhandal, who served as interim CEO from November 2022, and will continue supporting Horizons ETFs as COO. Ms. Bhandal will also continue to serve on the Board of Directors, where she will draw on her nearly 25 years of financial services expertise to provide Horizons ETFs with strategic oversight.
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