Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> June 8, 2015

Interview with the Director and CFO: Village Farms International, Inc. (TSE:VFF)

Stephen C. Ruffini
Stephen C. Ruffini is Director and Chief Financial Officer of Village Farms International, Inc. Mr. Ruffini began with Village Farms on January 5, 2009. Previously, Mr. Ruffini served as the Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer of Performing Brands, a small-cap U.S. publicly traded company. From 2001 until October 2005, Mr. Ruffini served as the Chief Financial Officer of Hit Entertainment, plc, a publicly traded — FTSE 250 — U.K. company. Hit Entertainment is the pre-eminent young children’s entertainment company owning such brands as Barney the Dinosaur, Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine. From 1993 to 2001, Mr. Ruffini served as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Lyrick Corporation and RCL Enterprises, Inc., privately held companies based in Allen, Texas, owning both entertainment properties as well as commercial printing and publishing operations. From 1984 to 1993, Mr. Ruffini was a senior tax manager at Arthur Andersen & Co. Mr. Ruffini has an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a BBA from Southern Methodist University. Mr. Ruffini is a certified public accountant — CPA.     Profile
TWST: Could you provide an overview of the company and explain your business model?

Mr. Ruffini: Yes. Village Farms is one of the largest hydroponic greenhouse producers and