CanniMed Therapeutics CEO Brent Zettl has resigned, effective immediately, as Aurora Cannabis nears completion of its acquisition of the medical marijuana company.

Zettl, who co-founded CanniMed's parent company Prairie Plant Systems Inc. in 1988, is pursuing other opportunities, the companies said in a statement.

He has agreed to remain available to CanniMed and Aurora as they integrate the two companies.

Aurora's senior vice president of business integration Andre Jerome has been appointed as interim chief executive.

In January, Aurora struck a stock-and-cash deal valued at $1.1 billion to buy CanniMed.

The agreement ended a sometimes-terse takeover battle between the two marijuana companies.