Executive Leaders
ERIC GRIPENTROG | CEO & Director
Eric Gripentrog is a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience in the Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) industry. He has held executive roles, including CEO, SVP, and board member, across multiple companies. At Kellogg (1992–2018), Eric led domestic and international business units with P&L responsibility, including as VP/GM of the Caribbean unit and VP of Strategy and Operations for North America. He also served as SVP/GM of Panera Bread’s CPG division, achieving double-digit growth, and was CEO and board member of Gina Cucina, a fresh soup manufacturer. Since 2020, Eric has been CEO of Hemptown USA and a director at Functional Brands and HTO Nevada. With expertise in strategy, P&L management, and creating high-performing cultures, Eric holds a degree from Western Michigan University.
TARIQ RAHIM | CPA, CA, CFO & Director
Tariq Rahim is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 15 years of experience in finance leadership across high-growth startups and publicly listed companies in industries such as cannabis, real estate, and automotive. He specializes in building and evolving finance functions, providing expertise in financial modeling, IPO support, and financial reporting under IFRS, US GAAP, and ASPE standards. Currently the CFO of Hemptown USA, Tariq has also held leadership roles at Nobul and Canopy Growth Corporation, where he built finance teams, secured funding rounds, and managed major transactions, including the $250M acquisition of Tokyo Smoke Brands by Canopy Growth. His skills extend to f inancial planning, KPI monitoring, tax compliance, and treasury management, with a passion for continuous improvement and driving organizational growth.
