Prior to his role at the Friendly Stranger, James earned an MBA from the University of Guelph and gained significant experience as Regional Director of Operations at Starbucks, responsible for approximately 100 locations. Additionally, James spent five years running and re-branding restaurant giant Jack Astor’s look and feel before settling in as President of Friendly Stranger Holdings Corp.
He’s been indispensable in helping merge the brand with cannabis accessory retail chain, Happy Dayz to secure a strategic and competitive position in the Canadian cannabis space. This lofty acquisition proved to be an exciting move for The Friendly Stranger’s expansive future.
In an ever-changing industry where the rules are in constant flux, James remains reliably in alignment with quality organizations that maintain honesty and integrity in business. These words aptly describe James himself. His goal is simple, create a brand that reflects the very best in cannabis while serving communities and legitimizing the sector. This is an easy objective for a father of two teenagers with a penchant for sailing and riding motorcycles in his free time.
