Green Monke Appoints Former Canopy Growth President David Paterson as Special Advisor

Green Monke, an award-winning hemp-D9 THC beverage brand, has appointed David Paterson, former President at Canopy Growth Canada, as Special Advisor to the Board. This strategic hire comes at a pivotal moment for the company as it experiences significant growth in both U.S. and Canadian markets through new product launches, retail expansion, and broadening distribution networks. Paterson brings over 15 years of experience spanning cannabis, beverage, and consumer packaged goods industries, having previously served as President of Canopy Growth Canada where he oversaw commercial, operational, and go-to-market activities across recreational and medical brands.

Paterson's extensive background includes leadership roles at Indiva as Chief Commercial Officer and Aurora Cannabis as VP Consumer Sales & Trade Marketing, along with earlier career positions at The Beer Store, TravelBrands Inc., and Major League Baseball Canada. His proven record in building commercial capabilities, launching successful brands, and driving growth across multiple industries positions him to guide Green Monke through its next phase of expansion. The company's CEO, Pat Gleeson, emphasized the timing of this appointment, noting Paterson's expertise in scaling cannabis brands and his vision for the hemp THC category will be invaluable as Green Monke continues its U.S. expansion and prepares for potential federal legalization.

The appointment underscores Green Monke's confidence in the hemp THC beverage sector, which is rapidly gaining consumer traction as people seek flavorful, better-for-you alternatives to alcohol. Paterson described this market shift as transformative, noting that Green Monke's exceptional product taste, distinctive branding, and proven retail success position the company well ahead of industry curves. His immediate focus will include scaling existing success by expanding into new channels, deepening relationships with national distributors, and building foundations for international markets as regulations evolve globally.

Paterson joins during a period of strong momentum for Green Monke, including the recent expansion of its Green Monke Happy Soda portfolio to six SKUs with new Orange Cream and Lychee flavors. The company has achieved continued retail success across convenience and grocery channels nationwide and is preparing for imminent launches in both a nationwide convenience store chain and a leading grocery chain. Additional expansion into iconic entertainment venues across the U.S. further demonstrates the brand's growing market presence. Paterson highlighted that for retail alcohol distributors and on-premise venues, hemp beverages represent a complementary offering that can increase customer engagement without alcohol-related drawbacks.

Green Monke's disciplined approach to quality and compliance has established its leadership in the hemp beverage market, and Paterson's experience operating within tightly regulated frameworks at Canopy Growth reinforces this foundation. He will also play a crucial role in advancing international expansion, supporting the brand's existing FSA authorization in the U.K. and pending approvals across Europe. This regulatory groundwork positions Green Monke for sustainable long-term growth while maintaining high standards of consistency, safety, and consumer trust. Gleeson emphasized that Paterson brings not only industry expertise but also a global perspective that will help the company navigate new territories confidently while upholding its commitment to excellence from product formulation to shelf experience.