() () (FRA:AC4) said it has appointed Leah S Bailey as its chief business development officer to drive commercial initiatives and provide leadership to the company's corporate development team.  

The cannabis group said with Bailey’s appointment, it is adding “a proven leader with a strong track record in driving revenues and profitability in both the cannabis and consumer packaged goods (CPG) sectors”.  

READ: Australis Capital issues corporate update highlighting strong FY2021 revenue thanks to ALPS, plus New York legalization hopes

Before joining Australis, Bailey served as chief executive of Fluresh, a US vertically integrated cannabis company based in Michigan, where she built the operation and organization from a start-up to become one of the top cannabis businesses in the state.

Bailey also holds several directorships with companies such as well-known medical cannabis science group Tikun Olam USA and Scott's Liquid Gold, as well as serving as an operating partner for a social equity applicant for craft grow in Illinois. 

Prior to entering the cannabis industry, Bailey also held senior executive positions with internationally renowned CPG companies such as Limited, Paris Presents, and Quaker Oats, a division of .

"Three key differentiators attracted me to AUSA: a leadership team with a stellar track record in driving growth and innovation, a unique and ambitious strategy, and a corporate culture carried by a team of high-achievers driven to succeed collaboratively. I have done a deep dive into the company, its pipeline of opportunities and its assets, and I have come away highly impressed. Consequently, I am a strong believer that AUSA is positioned to be exceptionally successful. I am proud to be taking on this role and to work with Terry Booth and the team to take AUSA to the next level in its development," Bailey said in a statement.

"To fill this important role, we were looking for someone with a proven track record of translating success in the CPG sector to the cannabis industry. When Leah's name came up and we then met, the fit was obvious, and we are delighted that she has agreed to join us. In addition to her proven leadership skills in making teams and companies succeed, Leah brings the strategic capabilities and network required to execute in the eastern United States. With Leah Bailey, CBDO, and Jon Paul, our CFO, both based out of Chicago, we are able to leverage their strong connections in the Eastern U.S. to accelerate our execution in this region. I look forward to working closely with Leah as we continue to build AUSA into a unique and highly successful MSO," said chief executive Terry Booth.

"AUSA has truly re-entered the American cannabis space, and Leah is an extremely important addition to our team. We have a sound plan and are ready to ignite, excite and delight our shareholders and clients with passion, experience, knowledge and quality," he added.

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