Medicinal cannabis company Cann Group has appointed former AstraZeneca senior manager Peter Koetsier as its new chief executive officer. The senior pharma executive will begin his new role on January 16, replacing Peter Crock who announced on October 24 last year that he would depart his role after more than six years as head of the company. Mr Koetsier will lead Cann with his more than 30 years of experience in global pharmaceutical companies, including his time as Asia Pacific Head for French biopharmaceutical company Ipsen, AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb. The incoming chief executive will earn an annual gross base salary of $350,000 and 4.5 million shares through the company’s employees options scheme. “I have a strong interest in new therapeutic areas and see tremendous potential for medicinal cannabis,” Mr Koetsier said. “Cann has established a genetics and production/ manufacturing base that is world class.” Cann shares closed up 2.4 per cent at 21c.