IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY RIPSHTEIN(APH CCO) WOULD LEAVE DIAGEO TO JOIN APHRIA, UNLESS DIAGEO HAS AN INTEREST IN PARTNERING / ACQUIRING APHRIA AT SOME POINT. THERE IS NO WAY DIAGEO WOULD LET ONE OF THEIR RISING STARS SIMPLY WALK AWAY. DIAGEO MOST LIKELY ELECTED TO PLACE ONE OF ITS OWN ON THE APHRIA MANAGEMENT TEAM AS PART OF THEIR DUE DILIGENCE. DIAGEO IS MOST LIKELY STILL PAYING RIPSHTEIN’S SALARY.
READ MORE AT HTTP://WWW.STOCKHOUSE.COM/COMPANIES/BULLBOARD/T.APH/APHRIA-INC?POSTID=28526414#CWORXTCPWOTTHB0T.99
IS JAKOB RIPSHTEIN STILL ON THE DIAGEO PAYROLL?
Trying to read tea leaves here...
It was reported earlier this week that Jakob Ripshtein left Diageo to join Aphria. From my perspective this makes no sense, unless…
By all accounts, Ripshtein is a rising star within the Diageo organization. He first arrived on the scene back in 2008 as Vice President of Finance. He spent the last ten years climbing the Diageo corporate ladder, leading to his most current role as CFO Diageo. Prior to joining Diageo he held various positions in the spirits and wine industry.
Diageo has a market cap greater than $80 billion dollars, 33,000 employees and is one of the world’s largest distillers. Aphria is a new company, has a market cap of $2 billion and only 300 employees.
Not saying it isn’t possible, but it is highly unlikely Ripshtein would leave Diageo to join Aphria, unless Diageo has an interest in partnering / acquiring Aphria at some point.
Here is my take on what transpired earlier this week…
This Ripshtein announcement all but confirms Diageo has an interest in partnering / acquiring Aphria. This may or may not happen.
There is no way Diageo would let one of their rising stars simply walk away.
Ripshtein, despite the press release, has not resigned from Diageo. Before sinking a dime into Aphria, Diageo most likely elected to place one of its own on the Aphria management team as part of their due diligence.
Diageo is most likely still paying Ripshtein’s salary.
A non-disclosure / non compete agreement would have been signed between Aphria and Diageo should nothing become of this.
If a deal is consummated, Ripshtein becomes the new CEO of Aphria when Vic steps down. Not to say there aren’t other individuals within the Aphria organization that could fill the role, but most likely Diageo would want to place one of their own in the position of CEO.
We are seeing the early stages of succession planning for when Vic retires.
If at some point Ripshtein resigns from Aphria and returns to Diageo (a company he never really left) then you know the “deal is off”.
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