James Whitcomb

James Whitcomb is a prominent figure in the cannabis industry who has held several key leadership positions at Parallel, a major multi-state cannabis company. Here are the key details about his career and role at Parallel:

Career at Parallel

James Whitcomb joined Parallel in 2016 as its first Chief Financial Officer, a position he held until 2019.3 He then served as the company's Chief Development Officer from October 2019 to November 2021.2 In November 2021, Whitcomb was unanimously elected by Parallel's Board of Directors to become the company's CEO, succeeding Beau Wrigley.14

Current Role

As of September 2024, James Whitcomb is no longer the CEO of Parallel. His LinkedIn profile indicates that he is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Frontier Risk, a position he has held since October 2022.2

Board Membership

Whitcomb is also a member of Parallel's Board of Directors.3

Experience and Expertise

James Whitcomb has a decade of experience in corporate finance, M&A, and restructuring.3 During his tenure at Parallel, he played a pivotal role in:

• Establishing Parallel's first regulated businesses
• Raising $350 million in funding
• Leading multiple mergers, acquisitions, and partnership deals

Background

Prior to joining Parallel, Whitcomb worked in Mergers & Acquisitions and Restructuring groups at Perella Weinberg Partners, an investment bank in New York.23 He began his career with Dory Ventures, a brand-focused family investment office.2

Education

Whitcomb received his BA from the University of Virginia and his MBA from Columbia Business School.3

Notable Actions

During his time as CEO of Parallel, Whitcomb made headlines by publishing an open letter in February 2022 addressing systemic inequities in the cannabis industry. He pledged to support fundamental changes to make the industry more equitable and called for an end to exclusionary, protectionist policies that have dominated the legal cannabis market.56

James Whitcomb's LinkedIn username is indeed jameshwhitcomb.2