BI Analyst Briefing: Global Cannabis Outlook – Is Europe the Next Frontier?

Kenneth Shea is a senior analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, a unique research platform that provides context on industries and companies, available on the Bloomberg Professional Service at BI GO . Mr. Shea oversees consumer products research content and related value-added data displays covering the broad packaged food, beverages and tobacco products industries globally.

Mr. Shea offers more than 20 years of related consumer products investment research experience across both equity and fixed income security analysis. Prior to joining Bloomberg, Mr. Shea was a managing director of Standard & Poor’s Corporate Ratings, where he produced credit research on public and private consumer products companies. Before that, Mr. Shea held a number of prominent positions, including S&P global equity research director, chairman of the S&P Investment Policy Committee, and member of the S&P Index Committee. He began his career at S&P in 1986 as an equity analyst, covering the global food, beverages and tobacco industries.

Mr. Shea earned his bachelor’s of science degree from The University of Maryland, and his master’s degree in business with a specialization in finance from Rutgers University. Mr. Shea is a member of the Consumer Analyst Group of New York, and has been a frequent contributor to the prominent television and print media for his insight on the consumer products sector and related topics.

Stephen Murphy is the Co-Founder & CEO of Prohibition Holdings, a global leader in cannabis data, tech and media, managing a portfolio of some of the best-known brands in the industry. Stephen was Co-Founder of ECH, a medical cannabis incubator that has been instrumental in opening up the European market. Stephen is a highly regarded industry thought leader and is often featured at industry events, quoted by mainstream media and referenced by companies all around the world. With a background in technology, digital media and corporate finance, Stephen works with investors, entrepreneurs and governments to identify, qualify and maximize the opportunities in this emerging frontier.

Matthew (Matt) Karnes has over 25 years of diverse finance and accounting experience. Prior to founding GreenWave Advisors LLC, Matt worked in equity research focusing on the Radio Broadcasting and Cable Television industries for First Union Securities. Matt also covered Satellite Communication at SG Cowen and in addition, worked with the top ranked Consumer Internet analyst at Bear Stearns & Co – this team was consistently recognized by the Institutional Investor’s “All America Research Team”. As a sellside equity analyst, Matt authored and co-authored numerous emerging industry research reports including such names as Google, Sirius, XM Satellite Radio, DIRECTV and EchoStar Communications. Matt was also Principal and Senior Equity Analyst at Bull Path Capital Management, a New York City based hedge fund, where he was responsible for investment strategies of emerging technologies primarily within the Technology, Media and Telecom sectors. Prior to his career on Wall Street, Matt held various finance and accounting positions at PriceWaterhouse Coopers and Deloitte as well as at Texaco Inc. where he worked throughout the U.S., Europe, The Caribbean and Asia. Additionally at Chase, Matt was responsible for implementing the bank’s corporate accounting policies on commodity, interest rate and foreign currency derivative products. Matt graduated from Fordham University with an MBA in finance and earned a B.S. Business Administration with a double major in accounting and finance from Miami University (OH). Matt is also a Certified Public Accountant.