Open Book Extracts (OBX), a company specializing in cGMP-certified cannabinoid ingredients and finished products, announced the addition of Tony Reeves and Tony Scanlan to its European sales and leadership team. Together with OBX’s global sales and operations teams, Reeves and Scanlan will work to support the growing list of OBX clients in the United Kingdom and Europe, as well as key global markets around the world.

The company joined the European Industrial Hemp Association Novel Food Consortium in March 2021, with the goal of pursuing safety studies to provide safe and ready access to cannabinoid-based products throughout the U.K. and the E.U., after which the company established OBX Europe, led by Najeeb Qazizada, director of the supply chain for OBX Europe. With its main distribution center in the Netherlands, OBX Europe supports local warehousing of OBX ingredients and finished goods throughout Europe to create supply chain efficiencies for OBX’s UK and European clients, as well as offering additional options for contract manufacturing in those geographical locations.

“OBX sees international markets as major opportunities to accelerate its growth with the most promising commercial developments coming out of Europe,” said Dave Neundorfer, OBX CEO. “Investing in experts like Tony Reeves and Tony Scanlan, who bring industry experience, deep strategic relationships, and an innovation mindset, is key to realizing the potential of the European market.”

Reeves has a background in both science as well as product knowledge and commercial insight to drive discussions on the benefits of hemp, CBD, and other cannabinoids to a diverse audience across public and private sectors, OBX reports. He has been representing the industry to regulators (MHRA, Home Office, FSA, HPRA, FSAI) since 2015, and contributing to presentations in Europe on key issues including novel food regulations, as well as CBD and THC levels in food, supplements, beverages, and cosmetics.

Reeves is a board director and UK representative of the European Industrial Hemp Association, the only pan-European trade association representing hemp. He is also a consultant to online retailer The Hut Group. He is also a member of the CBD Food Product Expert Group, which includes participants from FSA (Food Safety Authority) and the Home Office, and a member of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF)’s CBD Working Group. Reeves previously worked as a consultant to Pyxus International/FIGR Brands Europe and European managing director for Aurora Hemp.

Scanlan possesses a lifetime of experience in international commerce, and has built businesses and partnerships in the U.K., U.S., E.U., Middle East, Africa, and China, OBX reports. Scanlan has had roles at the forefront of developing retail and consumer products in the CBD, vape, and telecommunications worlds, with an understanding across the opportunities and regulatory environments in these emerging sectors. Scanlan has a long history of teaming with regulatory experts to ensure that partner and stakeholder strategies are at a leading edge, the company said.

OBX has a 76,000 square-foot research and production facility near Durham, North Carolina, and can efficiently manufacture a broad range of cannabinoids from hemp and natural sources, including CBD, CBN, CBC, CBG, CBGa, CBT, CBDa, CBDv, and THCv. It offers concept-to-market formulation and product development services, leveraging water-soluble technology and delivery mechanisms such as softgels, capsules, gummies, orally dissolving tablets, tongue strips, and aerosol sprays.