Rosenzweig & Co. Recruits CIO for the Supreme Cannabis Company
August 21, 2019 – Executive search firm Rosenzweig & Company has placed former Just Energy executive Ash Rajendra as chief information officer of the Supreme Cannabis Company, where he will focus on ensuring the organization is well prepared to execute on its next phase of growth. Partner Larry Chan led the assignment.
Mr. Rajendra is an experienced information technology and business leader who has a deep understanding of vertically integrated products, including operating within a regulated environment. Most recently, he was chief information officer at Just Energy, which specializes in electricity, natural gas, solar and green energy around the world and serves about two million residential and commercial customers. As a member of Just Energy’s executive management team, Mr. Rajendra was responsible for planning and execution of the company’s global IT strategy. Prior to this, Mr. Rajendra served as the CIO for Nordion, the world’s largest producer of medical isotopes.
The Supreme Cannabis Company is a global diversified portfolio of distinct cannabis companies, products and brands. Since 2014, the company has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing, premium plant driven-lifestyle companies by effectively deploying capital, with an emphasis on disciplined growth and high-quality products. Supreme Cannabis’ portfolio includes 7ACRES, its wholly-owned subsidiary and multi-award-winning brand; Blissco Cannabis Corp., a wellness cannabis brand and a multi-licensed processor and distributor based in British Columbia; Cambium Plant Sciences, a plant genetics and cultivation IP company; Medigrow Lesotho, an cannabis oil producer located in southern Africa; Supreme Heights, an investment platform focused on CBD brands in the U.K. and Europe and a brand partnership and licensing deal with Khalifa Kush Enterprises Canada.
Experienced Recruiters
Rosenzweig & Co. is an executive search firm focused on the critical, often specialized recruiting needs of its clients. The firm also offers management assessment, onboarding and executive coaching, organizational effectiveness, digital media strategy, and risk advisory and compliance services to a growing international client base. Jay Rosenzweig, the founding partner of the firm, is an expert in designing, building and attracting world-class executive teams. He consults to public and private companies, including large global corporations; emerging growth to mid-sized businesses; professional services firms; and private equity and venture capital firms.
Mr. Chan has over 12 years of executive search industry experience. He has consulted to companies in a wide array of tech-focused sectors including: telecommunications (wireless / wireline / cable / vendors), core technology (software, hardware, IT services, web / e-commerce) and retail / consumer with a technology “angle.”
CIO Recruiting
The chief information officer is considered among the most strategic roles in any organization. Executive search consultants who specialize in recruiting for the position say that the best CIOs can dramatically differentiate a company in the market, while a poorly performing one can be an organization’s weakest link. Still, headhunting within the function remains challenging, and skilled C-suite IT professionals are among the toughest to find.
It only makes sense that CIO hiring and recruiting information technology teams are on the rise. Nearly a quarter (22 percent) of U.S. CIOs plan to expand their IT teams, according to the Robert Half Technology “IT Hiring Forecast Trend Report.” It represents a three-point rise from the beginning of last year and an eight percentage-point jump from one year ago.
In recent months, a number of organizations have turned to executive search firms to help them find top flight CIOs. Here are a few of the top assignments tracked by Hunt Scanlon Media:
Scottsdale, AZ-based TillmanPartners recruited Bill Waszak as CIO for NASDAQ-traded American Woodmark in Winchester, VA. “American Woodmark is a well-established industry leader with a strong company culture and a commitment to invest in technology and drive continued innovation in the business,” said Rob Tillman, CEO, who handled the search.
Chicago-headquartered PearlCare Search Group placed Melvin Masula as CIO of Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. Geoff Zodda, chief solutions officer, IT search, led the assignment for PearlCare. Mr. Masula has 28 years of professional service in the IT industry. Previously, he was director of IT at WellLife Network.
Harris Search Associates, based in Dublin, OH, is considered one of the top search boutiques in this thriving area. The firm recently placed Amy Belew as chief information officer for the University of Tennessee at Martin. Managing partner Jeffrey Harris led the assignment.
Following a nationwide search, global search firm Odgers Berndtson recently placed Stan Waddell as the new associate vice president and chief information officer of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Partners Jennifer Biehn, Monica Burton and Kathy Ulrich led the assignment.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
