Leadership

Mr. Kennedy has served as Interim CEO since March 2023 and CFO since late 2020. Prior to joining cbdMD Mr. Kennedy spent 14 years in private equity where he spent time both on the investment team and as a C-level executive in PE backed investments. Mr. Kennedy received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University and a M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University.

Dr. Swift was the Associate Director for Research and Strategy at FDA’s Office of Dietary Supplement Programs. She has also served as the SVP for Scientific & Regulatory Affairs at the Natural Products Association. Dr. Swift is currently the CSO for cbdMD and co-chair of cbdMD Therapeutics.

Mr. Whitford has served as our Chief Accounting Officer since March of 2023. Mr. Whitford has been employed with the company since 2021 and previously served as our Vice President of Finance. Prior to joining the Company he served as Corporate Accounting Manager – Global Close and Consolidations for Diversey, Inc., a hygiene, infection prevention and cleanings solutions company from 2019 to 2021. Prior to his role at Diversey, he served as Corporate Controller for Four S LLC, the largest franchisee of Sola Salons Studios in the US from 2017 to 2019 and as Vice President and Corporate Controller of Campus Crest Communities, Inc., a vertically integrated developer of luxury student housing in the US and Canada from 2014 to 2016. Mr. Whitford graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a BA in Psychology and Master of Science in Accountancy.

Zeb Booker is a seasoned technology and operations leader with over 15 years of experience in the manufacturing and CBD industries. As a Chief Technology Officer, he has a proven track record of driving innovation, streamlining operations, and leading high-performing teams. With deep expertise in IT and operational management, Zeb specializes in scaling businesses, optimizing processes, and ensuring technology-driven growth. His leadership is defined by a commitment to excellence, efficiency, and strategic development in fast-evolving industries.

Mr. Trawick has served as the Director of Procurement at the company since 2021, where he oversees new product development and supply chain optimization to support the company’s growth. Prior to joining, he was the founder and Chief Operating Officer of Direct CBD Online (2019–2021), where he successfully scaled operations and drove market expansion.

Before founding Direct CBD Online, Mr. Trawick served as Global Supply Manager at Juul Labs, where he spearheaded the transition to a pharmaceutical-grade global supply chain. His earlier experience includes serving as Vice President of Global Sourcing and New Product Development for a U.S.-based e-cigarette company, where he was instrumental in placing products in over 70,000 retail locations nationwide.

 Mr. Baghadjian is a sales executive and former entrepreneur with nine years in the CBD industry, including VP roles. He has driven $20 million in revenue, excels in go-to-market strategies, and builds strong international relationships as a fluent speaker of five languages.

A seasoned marketing executive with a proven track record of success in regulated industries and high-growth companies. With leadership roles at Inc Authority (acquired by LegalZoom), First Tactical, and Kevin’s Naturals, Wade Brown has played a key role in driving strategic growth, optimizing acquisition channels, and leading marketing transformations that have resulted in successful exits. His expertise spans eCommerce, B2B and B2C marketing, digital advertising, and strategic partnerships. Wade excels at building and scaling marketing teams, reducing customer acquisition costs, and driving exponential revenue growth.