• by Sara Guaglione , May 7, 2020

Hightimes Holding Corp, the publisher of cannabis-focused media brand High Times, has a new CEO: former retail exec Peter Horvath.

Stormy Simon, who served as CEO for just four months, will step down.

Horvath is a former Chief Commercialization Officer of American Eagle Outfitters and former Chief Operating Officer at Victoria’s Secret.

His retail experience reinforces the company’s recent focus on becoming one of largest cannabis retailers in California.

Hightimes Holding Corp, which owns a number of marijuana-focused media companies and events, agreed to buy its first cannabis plant producer back in March.

The acquisition will provide the company with cannabis growing, processing and product manufacturing capabilities from Humboldt County, California. 

Last month, Hightimes Holding Corp agreed to acquire 13 dispensaries from Harvest Health & Recreation. The plan is to rebrand the stores to match High Times’ aesthetic, according to the company.

Horvath is the founder of Green Growth Brands, which operates The Source dispensaries in Nevada.

“Brands like Glossier, which first earned high affinity followers through compelling and relevant content, then demonstrated that you can also serve their followers through commerce. So, it’s been done before, I wouldn't suggest that it will be easy, but we have all the resources to succeed,” Horvath stated. 

High Times is in the process of launching an IPO.

In other hiring news, Variety has tapped designer Raul Aguila as creative director.

Aguila has worked for major business and cultural magazines, including Esquire, Wired, The New York Times Magazine and New York Magazine. 

Aguila’s primary focus will be creating visuals for Variety’s weekly magazine. He will also collaborate on digital initiatives for Variety.com. He will move from San Francisco to Variety’s Los Angeles headquarters on June 15. 

He will report directly to Variety editor-in-chief Claudia Eller.