Village Farms Appoints Deepak Anand to Lead Global Government Affairs

Village Farms creates a new global government affairs role, hiring cannabis policy specialist Deepak Anand to support its international growth plans.

Rhea-AI Summary

Village Farms (VFF) appointed Deepak Anand as Vice President of Government Affairs, a newly created role overseeing global government relations, regulatory affairs and public policy strategies.

Anand will focus on activating new market and product growth opportunities across the Company’s international cannabis footprint and will report to Chief Strategy Officer Brian Stevenson. He brings nearly 20 years of experience in cannabis policy, government relations and international market development, including prior roles at ASDA Consultancy Services, Cannabis Compliance Inc., Zenabis and board positions such as independent director of The Valens Company.

Market Context

At publication, VFF's pre-headline close was $2.88, with a 0.7% 24-hour change; the appointment was ...

Analysis

At publication, VFF's pre-headline close was $2.88, with a 0.7% 24-hour change; the appointment was assessed against existing positioning, not a measured post-news reaction.

Key Figures

Industry experience: Close to two decades Companies advised: More than 40 cannabis companies

Industry experience

Close to two decades

Government relations, cannabis policy, and international market development

Companies advised

More than 40 cannabis companies

Prior advisory experience

Key Terms

eu-gmp, controlled environment agriculture, cannabinoid, renewable natural gas

4 terms

eu-gmp regulatory

"the world’s largest EU-GMP certified cannabis facility"

EU‑GMP is a regulatory standard that certifies pharmaceutical and related manufacturing facilities in the European Union meet strict quality and safety rules for producing medicines and medical products. For investors, an EU‑GMP certificate is like a trusted food‑safety rating for a factory: it signals lower regulatory and supply risk, access to EU markets, and greater confidence that products are consistently made to required specifications.

controlled environment agriculture technical

"decades of Controlled Environment Agriculture expertise"

Controlled environment agriculture is the practice of growing fruits, vegetables or herbs inside purpose-built spaces—such as greenhouses or indoor farms—where light, temperature, humidity and water are tightly managed to produce consistent crops year-round. Investors watch it because it turns farming into a predictable, scalable operation (like a factory for plants), affecting yields, costs, supply reliability and price stability, and therefore the revenue and risk profile of businesses involved.

cannabinoid medical

"one of the country’s premier cannabinoid wellness platforms"

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that interact with the body’s cell signaling system that influences mood, appetite, pain and inflammation; they occur naturally in the cannabis plant, are made by the body, or can be created synthetically. Investors watch cannabinoids because they are the active ingredients that determine a product’s medical effects, consumer demand and regulatory treatment—think of them as the “active ingredient” in a drug or the key flavor that drives sales and legal rules.

renewable natural gas technical

"transforms landfill gas into renewable natural gas"

Renewable natural gas is methane captured from organic waste—like landfills, farms, or wastewater—and cleaned to the same quality as conventional pipeline gas so it can be used for heating, electricity, or vehicle fuel. Investors care because it turns waste into a revenue-generating commodity, can qualify for carbon credits or government incentives, and can reduce a company's emissions profile, affecting long-term costs, regulatory risk, and market demand much like converting trash into sellable fuel.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Renowned industry expert brings proven experience in international market development and government relations

Appointment reflects Company’s commitment to building long-term leadership positions in global cannabis markets

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Village Farms International, Inc. (“Village Farms” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: VFF) today announced the appointment of Deepak Anand as Vice President of Government Affairs. In this newly created role, Mr. Anand will lead government relations, regulatory affairs and public policy strategies across the Company's global footprint, with a particular focus on activating new market and product growth opportunities. Mr. Anand brings close to two decades of experience at the intersection of cannabis policy, government relations and international market development, and will report directly to Chief Strategy Officer Brian Stevenson.

President and Chief Executive Officer Michael A. DeGiglio commented, “Deepak is a widely respected voice in global cannabis policy, and his appointment reflects our increasing strategic focus on developing strong international government affairs as we continue expanding around the globe. We’re proud to welcome him to Village Farms and believe his track record building relationships with regulators and policymakers across multiple continents will strengthen our ability to build long-term leadership positions in new and existing markets.”

Deepak Anand commented, “Village Farms has built one of the most attractive platforms in the global cannabis industry, and I'm excited to join a company with such strong international growth ambitions. Over the course of my career, I've had the opportunity to work with licensed producers, policymakers and senior government officials around the world, and I look forward to bringing that experience to the Company as we continue navigating the evolving global regulatory landscape.”

Prior to joining Village Farms, Deepak served as President of ASDA Consultancy Services, where he advised more than 40 cannabis companies globally, as well as consumer packaged goods and tobacco companies entering the cannabis industry. He also previously served as Vice President of Government Relations at Cannabis Compliance Inc. (“CCI”), a leading cannabis regulatory and compliance consulting firm later acquired by Deloitte, and as Vice President of Business Development at Zenabis. He has developed businesses across Europe, including in Germany and the United Kingdom, and has held several board and advisory roles across the global cannabis industry, including as an independent director of The Valens Company. Mr. Anand holds a Master of Business Administration from Vancouver Island University.

About Village Farms International, Inc.

Village Farms is a global leader in cannabis, plant-based consumer packaged goods, and sustainable innovation. With a legacy built on decades of Controlled Environment Agriculture expertise and Dutch farming practices, today the Company is one of the world’s largest and most profitable cannabis operators with an asset portfolio that spans over 7 million square feet of advanced greenhouse and indoor cultivation assets.

In Canada, Village Farms operates the world’s largest EU-GMP certified cannabis facility at its production campus in Delta, British Columbia, and exports products to international medical markets. The Company is also a market share leader in dried flower formats and produces and distributes some of the country’s highest quality and best-selling strains, including its flagship Pure Sunfarms Pink Kush, one of the most widely consumed strains on the planet. Village Farms’ Canadian brand portfolio includes Pure Sunfarms, Fraser Valley Weed Co., Soar, Super Toast, Pure Laine, Tam Tams and Promenade.

In the Netherlands, the Company is one of only ten licensed operators in the country’s regulated cannabis program, and in the United States its CBDistillery brand is one of the country’s premier cannabinoid wellness platforms, and it also holds equity interests in cannabis businesses in Australia and Germany. Beyond cannabis, the Company holds an equity interest in Verdexa Holdings, a private venture pursuing strategic acquisitions to build a premier branded food platform, and its Clean Energy division transforms landfill gas into renewable natural gas and receives royalties on all revenues generated.

Contact Information

Sam Gibbons Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs Phone: (407) 495-5067 Email: sgibbons@villagefarms.com