Management Team

Deanie Elsner is the former President of U.S. Snacks division at Kellogg Company with more than 25 years of diverse consumer packaged goods (“CPG”) experience across both business and marketing leadership roles in domestic and international markets. A talented marketer, she is widely recognized for driving business results by building brands through infrastructure, innovation, culture and talent.

Previously, Ms. Elsner served as President of Kellogg's $3B Snack Business Unit, the largest business unit in the Kellogg Global portfolio, where she transformed that business by leading the exit out of the direct store delivery distribution system, established a portfolio investment strategy and shifted to occasion-based marketing. Prior to joining the Kellogg Company, she served more than 20 years in various leadership roles at the Kraft Foods Company including Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, where she was named by Forbes as one of the 50 Most Influential Global CMOs. Ms. Elsner is credited for successfully launching over $650MM Net Revenue in innovation including, MiO Water Enhancers, Gevalia Café, Keurig compatible Coffee Pods and specialty beverages. Her experience also includes sales roles at Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson.

Mr. Hammer has extensive financial leadership experience in domestic and international markets including the retail, e-commerce, and technology sectors. A talented leader, Mr. Hammer is recognized for his teamwork and expertise in driving business results through scaling efficient operational infrastructure, mergers and acquisitions, forward thinking analytics, strategic tax structures and accessing capital markets.

Mr. Hammer served as Chief Financial Officer in leading multibillion dollar multinational companies including Caleres Brands, Orbitz and Crocs. He, also, served as Chief Financial Officer of several Motorola business units and Chief Audit Officer.

Stephen Lermer joined as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer in January 2019. Mr. Lermer oversees all aspects of the Company’s manufacturing, supply chain, research & development, legal and regulatory affairs, quality assurance and control, engineering, cultivation and operations management functions. Mr. Lermer has over 38 years of experience overseeing start-up, mid and large-scale global pharmaceutical, cosmetic and consumer-packaged goods (“CPG”) operations, product development and commercialization, and manufacturing and distribution. He comes to Charlotte’s Web from the pharmaceutical industry, where he held senior leadership and executive positions at DuPont, Johnson & Johnson, Burroughs Wellcome (now GlaxoSmithKline), Rhone Poulenc (now Sanofi), Orion Oyj and Akela Pharma.

He also brings a seasoned global business perspective to operational decision making having lived and worked in Europe, the Caribbean, Central America, South America and North America. Mr. Lermer’s deep international business experience includes cross border mergers & acquisitions, international drug development and new market entry experience.

Mr. Mendez leads the Company’s global vision through his experience within the consumer-packaged goods (“CPG”) industry. He came to Charlotte’s Web from the Coca-Cola Company based in Atlanta, GA, where he served as Vice-President, Global Marketing of Water, Enhanced Water and Sport Drinks - one of Coca-Cola’s fastest growing categories. Mr. Mendez led global strategy and marketing for the division which has annual sales of USD$12 billion. Mr. Mendez has also served in an advisory role to Charlotte’s Web for nearly two years. As the Company’s Chief Growth Officer, he leads the Company’s business development, marketing and sales functions.

As Chief Customer Officer for Charlotte’s Web, Tony True leads the Company's sales strategy and forecasting, customer development and relationships, and retail execution. Mr. True brings nearly 30 years of sales leadership experience at top healthcare and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, including Kellogg Company, Pepsi Beverages Company, and McNeil Consumer Healthcare. Most recently, at Pharmavite, he led the sales organization, including strategic insights, customer relationships, sales planning and forecasting, retail execution, customer development, and organizational planning.

Jared Stanley is the Company’s Vice President of Cultivation Operations and has served as a Director of the Company since its inception in 2013. Jared graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Applied Human Sciences with a concentration in Construction Management. Since 2014, Jared and his brothers have built the extensive cultivation operations of the Company with locations in three states. Mr. Stanley also plays an active role outside of the Company promoting its products and technologies at public events around the world. He also plays a significant role in the Company’s legislative activities at the state and federal level.