PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Harvest Health & Recreation, Inc. (CSE: HARV, OTCQX: HRVSF) (“Harvest”), a vertically-integrated cannabis company with one of the largest and deepest footprints in the U.S., announced the appointment of Alex Howe as head of corporate communications, effective immediately.

Howe, the former President of Powerplant Global Strategies, the first strategic partnerships, communications and investor relations firm exclusively focused on the legal cannabis industry, will be responsible for managing and directing the company's internal and external communications and strategy, reporting to Harvest Chief Marketing Officer Kevin George.

“As I became more aware of the incredible story happening here at Harvest, I knew that this was the right time to join this dynamic team,” said Howe. “The company is truly at an opportune moment: to become the most valuable cannabis company in the world. And I couldn’t be more proud and delighted to share and shape this compelling narrative with our most important stakeholders, including patients and consumers, the media, regulators, partners, investors, local communities and our employees.” Harvest CEO Steve White concurred.

“We interact with a very diverse audience on a daily basis, so communicating the Harvest story to patients, consumers and potential investors is critical to our success moving forward. Alex’s significant work with cannabis industry clients and his experience outside of the sector will help us expand our leadership position and maintain our growth,” said Harvest CMO Kevin George. “We’ve worked closely with Alex since prior to going public and are excited to bring him in-house where he’ll be extremely effective at bringing all of our communications efforts together.”

Howe brings 17 years of experience to the position, working in corporate strategy and communications for cannabis, consumer, technology, Fortune 50 and sports and entertainment companies and has helped launch dozens of companies and build brands across sectors. As a co-founder of Powerplant Global Strategies, he worked closely with many of the best-known companies in the cannabis industry, including PAX, Arcview, Merida Capital Partners, I Heart Jane, THC Design and many others. In 2018, he was named one of Marijuana Venture magazine’s “40 Under 40.”

Prior to joining Powerplant, Howe was a Director at fama, North America's premier boutique PR firm for technology companies, where he launched startups and developed thought leadership campaigns for enterprise companies in the B2C and B2B spaces. Before fama, Alex was a vice president at Global Strategy Group in New York City, where he provided public affairs support, digital, traditional and crisis communications and produced award-winning campaigns for Google, Formula 1, UFC, Nestlé Waters, Time Warner, Inc. and the New York Road Runners.

Alex earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Virginia and completed a course of study at the McIntire School of Commerce.

About Harvest Health & Recreation, Inc.

Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. is a multi-state cannabis operator (MSO) and vertically-integrated cannabis company. Subject to completion of announced acquisitions, Harvest will have the largest footprint in the U.S., with rights to 219 facilities, of which 142 are retail locations and more than 1,580 employees across 17 states. Since 2011, the company has been committed to aggressively expanding its Harvest House of Cannabis retail and wholesale presence throughout the U.S., acquiring, creating and growing leading brands for patients and consumers nationally and continuing on a path of profitable growth. Harvest’s mission is to improve lives through the goodness of cannabis and is focused on its vision to become the most valuable cannabis company in the world. We hope you’ll join us on our journey: https://harvestinc.com.