Hamid Shekarchi, Chief Financial Officer for Delta’s Pure Sunfarms, is one of this year’s Business in Vancouver’s (BIV’s) Forty Under 40 award recipients.
This special awards program will also celebrate 35 years of business leadership excellence at an awards gala in February 2025
Those selected as recipients this year have achieved outstanding early-career successes. Whether as entrepreneurs, professionals or corporate executives, they have also demonstrated a clear dedication to community engagement, philanthropy and volunteerism.
“We had an extremely impressive group of nominees for this year’s awards program, which is also celebrating its 35th anniversary. It is humbling to read about all that these exceptional leaders have achieved in under four decades, and inspiring to see what they are working toward. Across communities and industries, they are driving meaningful change and having a positive impact on our province,” said BIV Editor-in-Chief Hayley Woodin Hastings.
This year’s award winners will be featured in BIV’s annual Forty under 40 Magazine in mid-December, and at a gala event Feb. 7, 2025.
The challenge and complexity of the cannabis industry drew Shekarchi to Pure Sunfarms, where in his role as CFO, he leads a team laser-focused on Pure Sunfarms’ leadership position, delivering financial results with impact.
With 15 years experience as a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator, he has held previous senior positions at BDO and PricewaterhouseCoopers, where his financial advisory and valuation roles exposed him to a broad set of experiences working with challenging industries including manufacturing, mining, technology, and real estate. During his time at BDO, he co-led the Western Canada Cannabis Group and was actively involved in the beginnings of the nascent industry writing articles and presenting at universities and industry events, including the AICPA conference.
Within the cannabis industry, it’s the mental stimulation of working in an ever-changing landscape with no set operating manual that makes seeing ideas, processes, and standards come to light so much more exhilarating for Shekarchi.
He hopes to instill a sense of humility and curiosity on his team, challenging everyone to do the work, take ownership, and ask the hard questions every day to create more effective and successful ways forward the whole team can stand behind and be proud of.
“Transitioning into the cannabis industry with no established playbook was both a challenge and an opportunity. Guiding Pure Sunfarms has been incredibly rewarding,” he said. “Helping build a sustainable, thriving business in such a complex industry has been a career highlight and a testament to the power of a focused, resilient approach.
“I’m thankful for having the opportunity to reflect on my journey and share what drives me personally and professionally, and for the experiences and people who have shaped my path. I look forward to what lies ahead.”
