NEW YORK, May 31, 2024 – PRESS RELEASE – Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc. (AWH), a vertically integrated multistate cannabis operator focused on bettering lives through cannabis, announced the appointment of Julie Francis to its board of directors, effective June 3, 2024.
With Francis' appointment, the total number of directors on the company's board will be increased from six to seven. The board of directors determined that Francis qualifies as an "independent director" pursuant to the standards of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the New York Stock Exchange. Francis will join the Compensation and Governance Committee, further strengthening AWH's commitment to best governance practices with an expanded slate of independent directors.
Francis currently serves as chief operating officer for The Schwan's Co., a leading U.S.-based manufacturer and marketer of quality foods offered through retail grocery and food service channels. Prior to her appointment as COO in January 2021, she served as president, Consumer Brands, Americas, since October 2018.
Before joining Schwan's, Francis was senior vice president, Commercial and Category Development – Total Beverage Alcohol at Constellation Brands, a Fortune 500 company and leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits, from 2017 to 2018.
Francis also brings valuable experience from her tenure as chief commercial officer - North America, Coca-Cola Refreshments, a subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Company, a global beverage leader with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories, where she served from 2010 to 2015. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Alfred University and is an alumna of The Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.
"We are thrilled to welcome Julie Francis to our board of directors," Ascend Executive Chair Abner Kurtin said. "Her extensive experience in the consumer goods sector, combined with her strategic leadership in high-profile companies, will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our governance practices and pursue our growth objectives. Julie's appointment reflects our ongoing commitment to enhancing our board with diverse, independent perspectives."
