“The Board and I are confident that Evelyn is the right leader to build on our momentum and brand, adding depth to our stellar executive team,” says Adam Grossman in this week’s media release announcing Evelyn Wang as CEO. Grossman founded the Papa & Barkley brand in 2015 and led the business as CEO until 2021.
Evelyn Wang takes on CEO role at CBD wellness brand Papa & Barkley
For the past 2½ years, Evelyn Wang served as the Chief Marketing Officer at Milani Cosmetics, a makeup and skin care brand that retails at Ulta Beauty, Target, CVS, Walgreens, HEB, and Walmart.
Prior to that Wang held leadership roles with the wet n’ wild brand at Markwins Beauty Brands, including 2½ years as Senior Vice President of the brand. She’s also worked with L’Oréal and as an Adjunct Faculty in the Beauty Marketing program at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, California.
Now in her new role at CEO of Papa & Barkley, Wang is leading a CBD-forward pain and wellness brand with topicals and ingestible in its portfolio of just 6 products.
The Papa & Barkley brand comprises a Releaf Balm, a Releaf Body Lotion, a Releaf Body Oil, ingestible Releaf Drops and Releaf Capsules, and a Releaf Repair Cream that’s formulated with not only CBD but also Squalane and Jojoba Oil for moisturizing benefits, making this product the one that sits most neatly into the skin care category.
Papa & Barkley Founder Adam Grossman resigns CEO role, staying on as Executive Chairman
Grossman isn’t leaving the brand he founded to help his father manage back pain. He’s simply moving over to serve as Executive Chairman of the Papa & Barkley Board of Directors.
“It has been a tremendous honor to serve as the CEO of Papa & Barkley since founding the company. I am incredibly proud of everything our team has accomplished together in just five years,” Grossman tells the press in this week’s release.
“We have earned our position as the top wellness brand in Cannabis - our products truly change people's lives,” he adds.
Along with the CEO change, Papa & Barkley took this opportunity to announce Zeeshan Hyder as the brand’s new CFO, taking over for Rod Millott who left in October to join the team at Pet Releaf, a company making CBD hemp oil products for dogs and cats.
“Zeeshan is a tremendous addition as well, bringing strong financial management experience and an extensive knowledge of the cannabis M&A landscape,” Grossman tells the press, adding, “This is an exciting time for Papa & Barkley.”
