Executive Leadership

Jason Wild first joined the board as Chairman of TerrAscend after leading a private placement into the company in 2017. Having built a deep knowledge base and network in the cannabis industry over the years, Mr. Wild brings strategic value as an investor and partner. As the company’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Wild works collaboratively with the board and management team to help guide the company’s strategy and source M&A opportunities.

In addition to his role with TerrAscend, Mr. Wild is the President and Chief Investment Officer of JW Asset Management, an SEC registered investment adviser with approximately $350 million in assets under management. Starting his first fund in 1998 with under $100,000 in assets, Mr. Wild achieved early success by leveraging his background as a pharmacist finding undervalued, specialty pharmaceutical companies, and focusing on long term price appreciation.

Mr. Wild also serves on the boards of Vitruvias Therapeutics, a US based generic drug company, Carma Holdco Inc., a global house of brands with a focus on celebrity endorsements, including the Tyson 2.0 brand, which entered the cannabis market in 2021, and Allumia, Inc., a software company developing an Efficiency-as-a-Service technology platform for large-scale deployment of energy efficiency solutions.

Ziad Ghanem brings nearly two decades of experience in large-scale healthcare services, cannabis, pharmacy, and retail operations to TerrAscend, where he manages and oversees all of the Company’s operations. Before joining TerrAscend in January of 2022, Mr. Ghanem served as President of all markets at Parallel, one of the largest privately held, vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operators in the U.S.  

Before entering the cannabis industry, Mr. Ghanem gained over 15 years of experience in senior leadership roles at Walgreens Boots Alliance. During his tenure, where he started as a Pharmacy Manager, he held several director roles, including Director of market Pharmacy Operations, Director of regional Healthcare, and Senior Director of healthcare Clinics Operation and Health Systems Partnership Integration. Mr. Ghanem received a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Houston. 

Eric Jackson brings more than two decades of finance and operational leadership experience across retail, consumer, and manufacturing sectors to TerrAscend. Most recently, he served for over eight years as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of American Signature, Inc., a multi-location, omnichannel retailer, where he oversaw finance, accounting, treasury, analytics, IT, real estate, and supply chain functions. In this role, he led operational transformation initiatives focused on cost discipline, margin expansion, and capital efficiency to support scalable growth.

Prior to American Signature, Mr. Jackson spent more than 14 years at L Brands, a publicly traded specialty retailer whose portfolio included Victoria’s Secret, PINK, Bath & Body Works, La Senza, and Henri Bendel. Over the course of his career, he has driven operational improvements, optimized cost structures, strengthened liquidity management, and enhanced financial and operational processes to support long-term value creation. Mr. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Miami University and a Master of Business Administration from The Ohio State University.

Lynn Gefen brings over two decades of in-house and law firm experience and extensive public company knowledge to her role at TerrAscend. She has held various legal positions in multinational companies across the insurance, beverage alcohol, and technology industries. Most recently, Ms. Gefen served as Deputy General Counsel, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, and Assistant Secretary at HomeServe, a publicly traded provider of home repair service solutions. Prior to HomeServe, she worked at Diageo North America, a global leader in beverage alcohol, focusing on regulatory matters, privacy, and compliance. Additionally, at Citrix Systems, a multinational cloud computing and virtualization technology company, she led a team responsible for corporate and compliance matters, including securities, commercial transactions, litigation, governance, and employment. 

Ms. Gefen began her legal career as an associate at Thacher Proffitt & Wood and Holland & Knight. She holds a J.D. from American University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida. 

Zachary Fleming brings more than a decade of senior leadership experience in regulated industries, including behavioral health and cannabis, to his role as Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations at TerrAscend. In this position, he oversees the Company’s cultivation, manufacturing, and retail operations across all markets, driving alignment between production and sales to maximize operational performance, efficiency, and profitability.

Since joining TerrAscend, Zachary has played a critical role in scaling operations and optimizing the Company’s asset base. As Senior Vice President of Capital Expenditures & Facilities, he led major infrastructure expansions and facility modernization projects. He later served as President of the Midwest market, where he executed a strategic market exit that streamlined operations and strengthened TerrAscend’s focus on core growth markets.

Before joining TerrAscend, Zachary held senior leadership roles at Parallel, a privately held, vertically integrated cannabis operator. As Senior Director of Retail Operations, he oversaw rapid retail expansion—growing the company’s footprint from three to forty-five dispensaries in under five years—before advancing to President of the Florida market, where he led transformative operational and cultural initiatives that improved efficiency and compliance.

David Wheeler is a forward-thinking technology executive with extensive experience in driving technological innovations and solving complex problems. At TerrAscend, he oversees all enterprise and customer-facing technology functions, including architecture, governance, risk, security, and digital platforms. His role involves leading the digital strategy and operations, ensuring that technology effectively supports the company’s objectives and enhances overall performance. 

Before joining TerrAscend, Mr. Wheeler co-led the Digital Transformation practice at CFGI, where he specialized in guiding clients through their technology journeys, emphasizing intelligent automation and data analytics.

His extensive background includes a 17-year tenure at The Coca-Cola Company, where he held several technology leadership roles. During his time at Coca-Cola, David managed multiple service lines, developed new business capabilities, and spearheaded complex global initiatives, significantly contributing to the company’s technological advancements and operational efficiency. 

BJ Carretta brings over 20 years of marketing expertise to TerrAscend, with a recent focus on dynamic cannabis marketing segments for the past six years. Recognized as a leading strategist in the industry, he has driven impactful results in top marketing roles at major multi-state operators, including Columbia Care, and as the inaugural Chief Marketing Officer at MedMen. Through his consulting company, he has also collaborated with various cannabis brands, organizations, and technology firms, enhancing their market presence and strategic growth. 

Before entering the cannabis sector, Mr. Carretta was Vice President of Digital Brand Marketing, Media, and Communications at Fender, the world’s leading guitar manufacturer. His extensive background includes eight years at NBC Sports Group, where he led marketing and communications for the action sports division. His career began at NBC Universal, contributing to the launch of the studio’s TV-to-DVD business. Mr. Carretta holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Purdue University, where he was also a member of the Division I men’s varsity basketball team.