IGNITE INTERNATIONAL BRANDS Announces the Appointment of a New Director and Four New Members to its Senior Management Team

VAUGHAN, Ontario, March 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IGNITE International Brands, Ltd. (CSE:BILZ, OTCQX: BILZF) (“IGNITE” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce today the appointment of Ms. Vered Elkouby Nisim, as an independent, non-executive director, to its board of directors. Ms. Nisim has extensive marketing experience including work with JH Design Group, a US leading manufacturer of licensed products including iconic brands such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, Marvel, and many more. Ms. Nisim is also the founder of Brellascope, a cutting-edge boutique marketing firm specializing in unique branding strategies and custom marketing solutions. Ms. Nisim has extended her business experience into cannabis as a member of local and state cannabis associations, committees and boards in California and is Founder/Managing Partner, Curagenics, LLC, a company using leading-edge bio-delivery systems to bring the health benefits of CBD to people for pain management, anxiety and several other physical and neurological conditions.

Ignite is also pleased to announce the following appointments to its executive and leaderships teams:

• Paul Holden has joined the team as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Mr. Holden joins Ignite from the Molson Coors organization where he served in various legal roles including Vice President, Legal & Industry Affairs at Molson Coors Canada and Head of Legal & Corporate Affairs at Truss Beverages (a cannabis infused beverage joint venture between Molson Coors and HEXO Corp).
  
  
• Lee Probst has joined the team to lead the sales charge for Ignite as Vice President, Sales. Mr. Probst graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Business Management. Over the past 16 years he has been a leader in Sales, Marketing and Operations within the Sports Nutrition Industry.
  
  
• Manuel Gonzalez will join the team as Vice President, International Business Development and will be joining Ignite in early April. Prior to Ignite, Mr. Gonzalez spent the past 21 years expanding global distribution networks for both apparel and vape companies while also establishing a company in France that trains sales executives on how to expand businesses penetration from local to European Union in scope.
  
  
• Zach Gleason joins Ignite as Vice President, Distribution. Mr. Gleason started his career manufacturing and distributing eLiquid in 2013. In 2015 he became Vice President of Marina Vape and carried that position until 2019 introducing brands such as AQUA, Alternativ, and Alpha Vape to the market. Just prior to joining Ignite, Mr. Gleason was President of Higher Connection, a Master Distribution company focused on bringing nicotine products to market. Higher Connection was one of the first distributors to introduce Ignite’s synthetic nicotine products to the marketplace.
  
  

John Schaefer, the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, stated “the addition of Ms. Nisim to Ignite’s Board of Directors adds significant marketing experience and skills to help the Company as it expands its business throughout the United States. The addition of Manuel Gonzalez with his experience in global distribution will help the Company expand globally. The addition of Lee Probst will help manage the Company’s expected sales growth in the United States. The addition of Zach Gleason will help the Company continue its high sales growth in the nicotine vape markets as it continues to responsibly penetrate the adult electronic cigarette market. Finally, Paul Holden expertise in spirits and cannabis will help the Company introduce its new Vodka and Tequila products globally and assist in the Company’s expanding cannabis business in Canada.”

The company further announces the granting of options to purchase 900,000 subordinate voting shares to certain employees, officers, directors and consultants of Ignite. The subordinate voting shares will vest over three (3) years from the date of grant and will have an exercise price of $1.10 per share. Based on certain changes in personnel the Company has cancelled options to purchase 650,000 subordinate voting shares.

About IGNITE

IGNITE is a global consumer brand, operating in the premium product segment of the market. Founded by Dan Bilzerian, the Company’s ‘quality‐first’ approach is fundamental to the brand and its products. IGNITE product categories now include CBD products, nicotine and synthetic nicotine vape products, premium performance drinks named ZRO, spirits featuring a premium vodka, and apparel. The IGNITE THC product line was introduced in Canada in 2020.

Shares of IGNITE are listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol “BILZ” and quoted in the United States on the OTCQX under the symbol “BILZF”.

Further information on IGNITE can be found on the Company’s website at ignite.co.

For further information, please contact:

Paul A. Holden, General Counsel

Tel: 416-407-1795

Email:   

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD‐LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release includes certain “forward‐looking statements” under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward‐looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to IGNITE’s ability to expand its business, drive higher sales and penetrate the electronic cigarette and spirits market. Forward‐looking statements are necessarily based upon several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward‐looking statements. There can be no assurance that any of the forward‐looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward‐looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward‐looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.