#United States #New York #LeafLink #cannabis industry #Ashwin Raj

LeafLink Appoints Ashwin Raj as New CEO

In a significant development within the cannabis industry, LeafLink has announced the appointment of Ashwin Raj as its new Chief Executive Officer. As the leading wholesale platform in the cannabis space, LeafLink has emphasized its commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions through this strategic leadership change. Raj's extensive background in technology and commerce positions him uniquely to guide LeafLink into its next phase of growth.

Ashwin Raj’s Vision for LeafLink

Expressing enthusiasm about his new role, Raj remarked, “Joining LeafLink is more than an opportunity; it represents a chance to help shape the future of a rapidly growing industry.” He recognizes LeafLink’s pivotal role as a cornerstone of cannabis commerce and emphasizes that the company is only scratching the surface of its potential. This vision aligns with LeafLink's mission of understanding customer needs and delivering effective solutions that empower them.

Raj comes to LeafLink with an impressive portfolio, having excelled in leadership roles across several high-profile companies. His experience includes serving as CEO of ezCater, where he led extensive growth and established a category-defining enterprise food platform. At Lyft, as the Executive Vice President and Head of Ridesharing, he was instrumental during the company's initial public offering (IPO), effectively managing challenges during the pandemic while steering Lyft towards profitability. His previous experience also includes pivotal roles at Amazon and Visa, where he was influential in driving mobile payments and digital financial services growth.

A New Era for LeafLink

With Raj at the helm, LeafLink aims to amplify its mission of empowering cannabis operators, brands, and retailers through a modern marketplace and integrated financial solutions. Their focus remains on developing reliable and interoperable infrastructure for the legal cannabis economy, thereby expanding access to essential financial services and raising industry standards for performance and compliance.

The cannabis industry, a rapidly evolving sector, demands a well-designed infrastructure that can keep pace with its sophistication. Raj’s leadership is poised to enhance LeafLink's capabilities in several critical areas:

• - Building a World-Class Marketplace: This will connect licensed brands with retailers, offering scalability, transparency, and efficiency that modern operators expect.
• - Integrated Financial Solutions: Facilitating compliance in payments and credit services will enable businesses to operate swiftly and efficiently.
• - Advanced Technology and Data Services: These tools will empower smarter forecasting, inventory optimization, and overall operational excellence while navigating various regulations across states.

Industry Impact and Future Aspirations

Artie Minson, the former CEO of LeafLink, stated, “The cannabis industry deserves the same quality of tools and infrastructure as any modern sector.” Under Raj’s leadership, the company is expected to strengthen collaborations with customers, regulators, and financial institutions to provide safe, compliant, and transformational solutions.

LeafLink has established itself not just as a technology provider but as a key partner in supporting the sustainable growth of the cannabis industry, creating jobs, increasing tax revenues, and fostering equitable growth as markets mature. The commitment to delivering high-quality tools and infrastructure aligns with the overarching goal of ensuring that cannabis operators have the resources they need to thrive.

About LeafLink

Founded in 2016, LeafLink is recognized as the leading B2B technology platform for the wholesale cannabis industry. It serves thousands of brands and retailers across over 30 markets, helping streamline e-commerce operations through modern sales, ordering, and fulfillment tools. The platform has been celebrated with numerous awards, reflecting its innovative approach in the cannabis sector, including recognition from Fast Company and Green Market Report.

For more insights about LeafLink's services and innovations, visit LeafLink.com.