Village Farms Appoints Hamid Shekarchi as Interim CFO

Village Farms International has appointed Hamid Shekarchi as interim Chief Financial Officer, effective September 10, 2026, as part of a planned leadership transition. Shekarchi, who previously served as CFO of the company’s Canadian cannabis division, succeeds Steve Ruffini. Ruffini will transition to a new role overseeing the company's mergers and acquisitions.

"Hamid is a gifted financial and strategic mind with deep institutional knowledge of the inner workings of our business, industry, technology and AI, as well as our evolving competitive environment. It is clear he is suited for this role, and we are confident his impact will be felt immediately," said Michael DeGiglio, President and CEO of Village Farms, in a statement.

Strategic Shift and Leadership Continuity

The appointment is intended to maintain financial oversight while the company pursues global growth initiatives. According to an SEC filing regarding the change, the transition is part of an organizational strategy to align executive expertise with the company’s operational requirements.

"I am proud to assume these expanded leadership responsibilities at Village Farms and eager to expand my focus globally to support our next phase of growth. It has been an honor to help form the foundation for our success in Canada, and I look forward to working with our team members around the world to strengthen our business systems and insights to continue delivering results and value for our shareholders," said Hamid Shekarchi, Interim CFO, in a statement.

Market Context

Village Farms operates in the intersection of controlled-environment agriculture and the cannabis sector. The company has been navigating a volatile market environment as it attempts to scale its international footprint. As of September 11, 2026, Village Farms International (VFF) stock was trading at $2.88.

Ruffini’s move to lead mergers and acquisitions suggests a focus on inorganic growth or consolidation, a strategy for firms in the capital-intensive cannabis industry looking to expand market share. By retaining Ruffini within the leadership team, Village Farms aims to preserve institutional memory during the handover of financial reporting duties to Shekarchi.