Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. Appoints John Cochran as Chief Operating Officer
Cochran Brings Decades of Experience across Cannabis and International Consumer Packaged Goods Companies,
Including Pabst Brewing Company and Fiji Water
Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. (CSE:
HARV), a vertically integrated public cannabis company with one of the largest footprints in the U.S., announced the
appointment of John Cochran as chief operating officer (COO), effective immediately. Cochran is the former CEO of multistate
cannabis company
Loudpack Inc., former CEO of
Ole Smoky Distillery, former CEO of
Pabst Brewing Company, and former President and COO of
Fiji Water Company. John will report to Harvest President Steve Gutterman and be a key member of the executive team.
“With an aggressive growth plan for 2019 and beyond, attracting a world class executive like John to work with our talented team
and lead Harvest’s operations is very exciting.” said Harvest CEO Steve White. “John’s proven track record with some of the largest
and best known, multinational brands and companies will accelerate our grow as we aggressively expand into new markets. His
cannabis experience is an added bonus.”
Cochran has a long history leading and driving revenue, profitability and shareholder value with some of the largest companies
in the U.S., such as: CEO of
Hollandia Produce, the leading hydroponic farmer, producer and seller of living greens in North America; CEO of Ole Smoky
Distillery, the number one un-aged whiskey brand; and CEO of Pabst Blue Ribbon, the largest American owned beer company in the U.S.
Prior to Pabst, Cochran also served as president and COO of Fiji Water Company.
Cochran comes to Harvest from multistate cannabis company Loudpack Inc., where he served as CEO. At Loudpack, Cochran led the
daily operations of the business, brought new cultivation and production facilities online, built an operating team of more than
300 employees and launched eight different brands and product lines last year.
“I’m excited to bring my leadership, and knowledge of the cannabis industry, to one of the fastest growing companies in the
fastest growing industry in the world,” said Harvest COO John Cochran. “At a time when more mainstream consumers are becoming
curious about cannabis products and turning to the plant to help improve their health and wellness, I look forward to applying my
decades of experience and the best of what I have learned at some of the biggest U.S. companies to create great value for our
shareholders and the cannabis industry at large.”
About Harvest Health & Recreation, Inc.:
Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. is one of the first consistently profitable, vertically integrated cannabis companies with one
of the largest footprints in the U.S. Harvest’s complete vertical solution includes industry-leading cultivation, manufacturing,
and retail facilities, construction, real estate, technology, operational, and brand building expertise — leveraging in-house
legal, HR and marketing teams, along with proven experts in writing and winning state-based applications. The company has more than
525 employees with proven experience, expertise and knowledge of in-house best practices that are drawn upon whenever Harvest
enters new markets. Harvest’s executive team is comprised of leaders in finance, compliance, real estate and operations. Since its
founding in 2011, Harvest has grown its footprint every year and now has more than 60 licenses in 12 states, with planned expansion
into additional states by 2020. Harvest shares timely updates and releases as part of its regular course of business with the media
and the interested public. Harvest trades publicly on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE) under the ticker: “HARV.” For more
information, visit: https://www.harvestinc.com/.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Harvest with respect to
future business activities. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will,"
"intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" or similar expressions and include information regarding: (i)
expectations regarding the size of the U.S. cannabis market, (ii) the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business
objectives, (iii) plans for expansion of Harvest, and (iv) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive
factors.
Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects Harvest
management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and
estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although Harvest believes that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance
should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future
results, performance or achievements of the combined Company. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: the potential impact of an announcement of a
going public transaction on relationships, including with regulatory bodies, employees, suppliers, customers and competitors;
changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; and in particular in
the ability of the Company to raise debt and equity capital in the amounts and at the costs that it expects; adverse changes in the
public perception of cannabis; decreases in the prevailing prices for cannabis and cannabis products in the markets that the
Company operates in; adverse changes in applicable laws; or adverse changes in the application or enforcement of current laws,
including those related to taxation; the inability to locate and acquire suitable companies, properties and assets necessary to
execute on the Company's business plans; and increasing costs of compliance with extensive government regulation. This
forward-looking information may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of Harvest and market conditions.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking
information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated,
believed, estimated or expected. Although Harvest has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could
cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.
Harvest does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise
required by applicable law.
Leland Radovanovic
Powerplant Global Strategies
Leland@PowerplantStrategies.com
845-200-5249
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