Brains Bioceutical: building a cannabis dream team

Home » Brains Bioceutical: building a cannabis dream team

In this article, CEO of Brains Bioceutical, Rick Brar, discusses how building an expert team makes for a successful cannabis business.

I have always subscribed to the mantra that you are only as good as your team. As an entrepreneur and CEO, my relative success has always been the result of the high-performing teams that I have had the privilege of working with over the years. They have been instrumental in creating positive synergies, bringing innovative ideas to the forefront and helping to bring the company vision to life.

When I founded Brains Bioceutical, a global manufacturer of naturally-sourced active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), I knew the company would be embarking on a new frontier in the research and development of cannabinoids for the health and wellness sectors.

This ambitious undertaking would require the top minds across a number of industries, from pharmaceutical to cannabis and everything in between. Our team is strategically positioned to cover a diversified approach to pharmaceutical cannabinoids – with operations across the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and medical markets.

With that in mind, I went in search of the infrastructure and the people I would need to help fulfil my vision of creating a company that specialised in the development of natural, plant-based cannabinoid APIs, backed by evidence-based research.

My team of advisors tracked down an API manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom that was EU-GMP certified. Not only did the facility (BSPG Laboratories) check all of the boxes, it was run by Dean Billington, an accomplished scientific professional with decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

Dean is one of the most knowledgeable people in the industry when it comes to the CBD molecule and what it takes to navigate the complex global regulatory environments associated with cannabinoid APIs. He has a proven track record of commercial and business development success with major pharmaceutical companies including Caligor RX Ltd., Bilcare GCS Europe Limited, Fisher Clinical Services and Pharmalytic Limited.

He has also provided independent consulting services to a wider range of pharmaceutical companies at various stages of growth, providing expertise on all aspects of the drug development cycle including clinical trials, analytical chemistry and quality assurance.

Once Dean accepted the position as global chief operating officer for Brains Bioceutical, I knew this company was going to be well-positioned for hyper growth in the CBD health and wellness industries.

Following Dean’s hiring, I was in search of candidates that could lead our vertical markets – ingredient, wellness and pharmaceutical development. Terry O’Regan, who had a demonstrable track record of high performance in the pharma and biotech sectors, was my primary target. Having worked in a number of senior executive roles with pharmaceutical giant Biogen, I knew Terry could provide the expertise when it comes to the development and launches of new products and drive sustainable growth strategies.

With Biogen, Terry developed a comprehensive portfolio strategy that maximised the potential of Biogen’s MS brands, ensuring the company had the top three most prescribed MS drugs in the United Kingdom. He also made significant strides as chairman of the American Pharmaceutical Industry group, influencing government policy within the life science sector by identifying opportunities for further collaboration between the UK Government and the industry.

But it wasn’t just Terry’s track record in product innovation, business development or policy reforms that made him the ideal candidate for President of Brains Bio. It is his passion for creating a company culture where employees feel valued and respected; where everyone is an equal part of something extraordinary. Terry is a man that does his homework and before accepting the role as President, he consulted with a number of neurologists, oncologists, patients and conducted a thorough literature review of the potential that cannabinoids could have on the future of healthcare and patient outcomes. Convinced that our natural, plant-based cannabinoid API could be used to treat various chronic diseases facing the world, Terry graciously agreed to lead our team.

Thankfully for us, Terry had deep connections with prominent people in the pharmaceutical industry, including Bill Purves, who is now our chief commercial officer. Bill is a veteran in both the pharmaceutical and cannabis industries, ideally suited to lead Brains Bioceutical’s business development strategy, exploring new revenue streams and solidifying relationships with existing and prospective customers.

He started his pharmaceutical career with GlaxoSmithKline, where he stayed for over 10 years leading the company’s international business development unit. His entrepreneurial ventures began shortly thereafter with Iroko Pharmaceuticals, where Purves helped establish the company’s global sales and distribution networks for branded generic and specialty prescription products. In 2018, he entered the cannabis space, serving as CCO and CFO for Jacana, a Jamaican cannabis company. In these roles, Purves helped transform the startup into a fully vertically integrated cannabis company with business arms that included research and development, cultivation, production and extraction.

As CCO of Brains Bioceutical, Purves is able to combine his passion and experience in the pharmaceutical industry with his background in working with a cannabis startup.

And last but not least, what is a company without a tactical political strategist, public policy expert and master communicator? Barinder Bhullar, our senior vice president of corporate affairs, serves as the crucial link between the company and its customers, investors, employees and government, responsible for overseeing Brains Bioceutical’s overall communications strategy and providing direction on the company’s image, reputation and general performance.

Barinder has held multiple senior level positions within the BC government, with a proven track record in establishing and maintaining relations with domestic and international governments and stakeholders. He also served as vice-president of international affairs for The Supreme Cannabis Company, a leading Health Canada licensed cannabis producer. In this role, Barinder worked with governments in the United Kingdom and Brussels to provide input on Europe’s medical cannabis policy. More importantly, Barinder demonstrates incredible leadership and passion and is eager to lead the Brains Bio team in unlocking transformative health and wellness solutions for patients and consumers.

Collectively, we have an incredible mission ahead of us. The strength of our combined team brings over 100 years of relationships with large pharmaceutical and research institutions. This combined with an exclusive partnership with one of the world’s largest human nutrition companies, will allow us to rapidly expand our global sales footprint. Using our industry leading hemp-based cannabinoid API, we are pioneering a new frontier in medicinal and wellness solutions across the world.

Our leadership team possesses unparalleled expertise and institutional knowledge in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and cannabinoid-based product development. Now that we have the people, the infrastructure, the licensing and the research and development well underway, I am proud to say that Brains Bio is strategically positioned to be a trailblazer in healthcare innovation across the world.

Rick Brar
CEO
Brains Bioceutical

[activecampaign form=31]