- Flora Growth has appointed regulatory veteran Holly Bell as the new Vice President of Regulatory Affairs
- Bell will help further the company’s domestic and global expansion strategy and lead government relations in key international markets
- She will also oversee the regulatory strategy supporting the advancement of the company’s cultivation, distribution, and pharmaceutical programs
- Bell also participated in the first event in her new position- the Florida Industrial Hemp Conference and Exhibition held on May 20-22, 2022
In recent months, Flora Growth (NASDAQ: FLGC) has been on an aggressive international expansion plan that has seen exports to Mexico and Spain, with an established presence in the U.K. and E.U.
In a move to strengthen the company’s global expansion strategy further, Flora Growth recently announced the appointment of regulatory veteran Holly Bell as the new Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. Bell will also be responsible for leading government relations in key international markets (https://ibn.fm/k8RJB).
“I am excited to be working with Flora, supporting our work on the global stage, by advancing how the world views cannabis as a product and as a medicine,” she noted.
“I’m looking forward to leveraging my experience launching Florida’s hemp program to help Flora improve access to some of the best wellness brands in the world. From our leadership and brand teams to our valued scientists and cultivators, every part of the Flora organization is decided to providing safe, legal, and accessible cannabis products to consumers globally,” she added.
Bell has extensive experience in the cannabis sector, having worked as a cannabis consultant across the United States helping to build the infrastructure for industrial hemp programs. Most recently, she was the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ first Director of Cannabis. This agency fosters the creation of manufacturing, cultivation, and sales programs in the state.
Through her previous positions, Bell has worked with leading regulators throughout Florida to create the first commercial hemp program in the state and develop an extensive educational series on the same program. She has also advised leading financial institutions on compliance to assist them in offering banking services to cannabis businesses.
“Holly’s unique knowledge and understanding of the United States’ regulatory framework will position us to make thoughtful, educated, and bold decisions regarding strategic distribution, cultivation, and sales plans,” noted Luis Merchan, Flora Growth’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
“We look forward to bringing Holly’s enterprise to our growing roster of industry standouts and working closely with governments worldwide to break down the barriers to the cannabis trade,” he added.
Bell will oversee the regulatory strategy supporting the advancement of Flora’s cultivation, distribution, and pharmaceutical programs, including its regulatory submissions and interactions with government authorities worldwide. She will also work towards developing and expanding a curriculum produced in partnership with EdEx that educates university students, companies, and governments about the business of cannabis.
The Florida Industrial Hemp Conference and Exhibition was Bell’s first event in her new position at Flora Growth. The event centered on advancing the industrial hemp industry in Florida and across the United States. Bell offered an overview of the state’s hemp program, which she helped leading state regulators develop (https://ibn.fm/WOqx0).
The conference followed the Cannabis Regulatory Landscape webinar, where Bell, Jason Warnock, Flora Growth’s COO, and Mr. Merchan explored the nuances of working within the global cannabis regulatory framework. Discussions in the webinar included an overview of the opportunities and challenges for Flora and other cannabis companies operating in the U.S., Colombia, and other global markets, along with the importance of working closely with government entities.
The other topics covered in the webinar included what to expect from crucial bills to increase accessibility and market opportunities for Flora Growth and which markets continue to show substantial promise.
Bell holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University and is a tenured consultant with experience working in the entertainment, cannabis, and banking spaces.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.FloraGrowth.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to FLGC are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/FLGC
About MissionIR
MissionIR is primarily focused on strategic communications. We have executed countless communications programs to address the needs of companies ranging from start-ups to established industry leaders, gaining valuable experience and the expertise necessary to determine the most effective strategy for any given situation.
For more information, visit www.MissionIR.com
MissionIR (MIR)
Atlanta, Georgia
www.MissionIR.com
404.941.8975 Office
Editor@MissionIR.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the Mission Investor Relations website applicable to all content
