Mr. Ripshtein served as the President of Aphria Inc. (“Aphria”), which was acquired by Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY), one of the largest cannabis companies in the world, and played an instrumental role in its growth throughout Canada with a focus on global product innovation. He joined Aphria after spending years as the Chief Financial Officer of Diageo North America Inc. (“Diageo”) (NYSE: DEO) and President of Diageo Canada, the multinational beverage giant behind such global brands as Johnnie Walker, Don Julio, Guinness, Baileys, Smirnoff and Captain Morgan.

Prior to Diageo, Mr. Ripshtein held a variety of roles in finance, sales and strategy in various global companies and has previous experience in the Canadian spirits and pharmaceutical sectors where he oversaw business, sales and tax functions. Mr. Ripshtein holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from York University, as well as a CPA and International Tax designation. Mr. Ripshtein is currently CEO of Perennial Brands Inc., a full life-cycle brand strategy organization.