London – September 24, 2026 -- Artemis Growth Partners, a global investment firm specializing in regulated medical cannabis and emergent medicinal therapeutics, has appointed James Hayward as Advisory Director following his 35-year career at JPMorgan.
Hayward built JPMorgan's European hedge fund credit franchise over three decades
Hayward founded and led JPMorgan's European hedge fund credit business, working across leveraged finance, high yield, credit derivatives and distressed markets. He will now advise Artemis on capital formation, business development, LP relationships and strategic financing across its global platform, working alongside Co-Founder and CIO William Muecke and Managing Partner E. Stanton McLean.
Artemis manages over $300 million across six investment vehicles
Founded in 2017, Artemis deploys capital in regulated medical cannabis and emerging therapeutics across North America, Europe and other international markets through six dedicated vehicles. The firm's team draws experience from Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Mesoamerica.
Executives cite maturing regulatory frameworks and rising capital sophistication
Muecke said Hayward's institutional relationships and credit-building experience will be valuable as the medical cannabis sector matures and financing requirements grow more sophisticated. McLean, a former JPMorgan partner alongside Hayward, said the pair witnessed European credit markets develop into a major institutional asset class and that those lessons apply directly to the next stage of the emergent medicinal therapeutics industry.
Hayward flags institutional investor unawareness of sector's growth trajectory
Hayward said medical cannabis remains heavily stigmatized despite growing evidence of efficacy, and that most institutional investors remain unaware of how rapidly the industry is developing. The appointment strengthens Artemis's institutional capabilities as the firm deepens engagement with hedge funds, family offices and private equity investors operating across regulated markets, particularly as European regulatory frameworks evolve.