Cura founder and President Cameron Forni has been named CEO of the company, after former CEO Nitin Khanna stepped down in late May, according to a company press release.
“Personal allegations against Nitin that arose several years before the company was founded have become a distraction for the company’s mission,” newly named CEO Cameron Forni wrote in a press release this week. “We are announcing the changes today to continue the incredible work several hundred of our employees have done to build a company and work environment that we’re all very proud of. Nitin is stepping down as of today [May 30]; however, this is a natural progression due to Nitin’s decision to pass off operational leadership responsibilities four months ago, and the transition has been in the works for some time.”
In 2014, Khanna filed a civil settlement with a woman who had accused him of raping her in 2012, according to a Portland Business Journal report.
Founded in Portland, Ore., in 2015, Cura distributes its cannabis oil products in multiple states. Cura’s Select Oil cartridge line led the corporate expansion to a $400-million valuation at the start of 2018. The company recently picked up Montel Williams’ Lenitiv line of hemp-derived CBD products.
Jonathan Franks, vice president of Lenitiv Scientific, provided this statement to Cannabis Business Times: “The founders of Lenitiv Scientific believe that the actions taken by Cura today are a powerful expression of its values. We take allegations like these very seriously and we expect all with whom we do business to do the same. That said, these allegations pre-date Cura and are entirely unrelated to its business. Cameron, Amy and the line staff have our full confidence going forward as they work to make Cura an even better company.”
In April, Cura announced that it would enter the impending legal cannabis market in Canada. The decision to seek licensure in Canada could ultimately grant Cura an opportunity to export its products to additional international markets. “My team and I are more than excited to contribute to the Canadian cannabis ecosystem in 2018,” Forni said at the time.
