• by Sara Guaglione , April 5, 2019

High Tmes Holding Corp., which owns a number of cannabis-focused magazines, such as the 45-year-old High Times, has a new president and CEO: entertainment executive Kraig Fox.

The former CEO of the company, Adam Levin, will now be executive chairman.

“Kraig’s operating and finance experience with public companies in the live entertainment, music and branding sectors makes him the ideal executive to take the High Times brand, our growing portfolio of assets and our business operations to the next level,” stated Adam Levin.

Fox has served as part of the founding team and senior executive officer group behind Live Nation and Core Media, which owned “American Idol,” Elvis Presley Enterprises and Muhammad Ali Enterprises.

Fox has also served as senior managing director of entertainment and media at Guggenheim Partners and, most recently, Eldridge Industries.

His appointment as High Times CEO likely signals the company's commitment to building out its live events and awards shows.

“High Times is the most valuable and recognizable global brand in the cannabis sector, and I am thrilled to be leading this rapidly expanding organization,” Fox stated, adding he will help the company expand “both organically and through acquisitions.”

In the last two years, High Times Corp. has acquired a number of print and online media brands, such as Culture Magazine, Dope Magazine and Green Rush Daily.

High Times has also created a music label, a video-on-demand platform and several licensing deals.

It has nearly closed on its latest acquisitions: The BIG Show, a U.S.-based cannabis conference and expo, and Spanabis, the largest global cannabis conference, based in Barcelona, Spain.

High Times is poised to launch its public stock offering later this year. Levin told the New York Post he has attracted 20,000 stockholders and raised more than $15 million so far.

“We plan on keeping our public offering open for a brief period as we conclude discussions with institutions and other major investors,” Fox noted. “Both the investor and cannabis communities recognize that High Times is uniquely positioned to empower the industry with positive long-term financial returns.”