Nicholas Kadysh, former head of corporate affairs at Juul Labs Canada, recently joined Poda Lifestyle and Wellness' Global Advisory Board.
He serves on the board alongside former Juul Labs Canada President Michael Nederhoff, who commented on the appointment in Poda's recent news release.
"Having worked closely with Nick at Juul Labs Canada, I can personally attest to the skill and expertise that Nick brings to the table," Nederhoff said. "Nick has a wealth of regulatory experience across various categories and in multiple countries, which will be invaluable as we scale the business."
Poda is quickly expanding in the global commercialization of heat-not-burn (HNB) smoking products, which the company hopes will reduce health risks for cigarette smokers, Poda said in the release.
Poda's Beyond Burn pods contain "a tobacco-free blend of pelletized tea leaves infused with synthetic nicotine, which have been expertly crafted to mimic the sensorial experience of traditional cigarettes without the smoke, without the smell, and without the tobacco," Poda said on its website.
Heated tobacco products are new to the U.S, and scientists are still learning about their short- and long-term health effects, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Kadysh brings over a decade of public affairs and regulatory experience to the board at such companies as General Electric Canada and Red Bull Canada. Prior to that he worked in Canadian political campaign and legislative positions, most recently as director of the outreach department in the Opposition Leader's office in Toronto, Poda said in the release. Kadysh believes Poda is in a position to gain significant market share in the burgeoning HNB market, and that his past experience will be helpful in getting the products approved.
"With my vast experience in public affairs and as a regulatory expert, I look forward to helping guide Poda as they continue their global expansion," Kadysh said. "Entering highly regulated markets requires careful planning and skillful execution, and there are many potential pitfalls to be avoided. As a member of Poda's Global Advisory Board, I look forward to helping the company make smart decisions that will lead to rapid and sustainable growth on a global scale. Poda's one-of-a-kind, heat-not-burn technology has the potential to make a big difference in the lives of nearly 1.3 billion cigarette smokers around the globe, and I look forward to contributing to this positive change on a worldwide scale."
Kadysh also is founder and CEO of the Canadian company PharmAla Biotech, which manufactures clinical-grade MDMA for scientific research.
Nederhoff was appointed CEO of Canadian company Shelter Cannabis in June and became a Poda Global Advisory Board member earlier this month.
The addition of Kadysh and Nederhoff to the board are not the only changes at Poda. Earlier this week, Poda entered the medical device market and appointed regenerative medicine and pain management specialist Dr. Jagdeep Gupta as its new chief medical officer.