diff --git a/course_discovery/apps/tagging/emails.py b/course_discovery/apps/tagging/emails.py
index 0b473b8a4d..005d947c83 100644
--- a/course_discovery/apps/tagging/emails.py
+++ b/course_discovery/apps/tagging/emails.py
@@ -40,8 +40,12 @@ def send_email_for_course_vertical_assignment(course, to_users):
     """
     Sends an email to specified users requesting action to assign vertical and sub-vertical
     for a given course, but only to those who have email notifications enabled.
+
+    Arguments:
+        course(Object): course model instance
+        to_users(List): list of user objects
     """
-    email_enabled_users = [user for user in to_users if is_email_notification_enabled(user)]
+    email_enabled_users = [user.email for user in to_users if is_email_notification_enabled(user)]
     if not email_enabled_users:
         logger.exception(
             f"Failed to send vertical assignment email for course '{course.title}' (UUID: {course.uuid})"
@@ -70,5 +74,5 @@ def send_email_for_course_vertical_assignment(course, to_users):
     except Exception as e:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
         logger.exception(
             f"Failed to send vertical assignment email for course '{course.title}' (UUID: {course.uuid}) to "
-            f"recipients {', '.join(list(map(lambda user: user.email, email_enabled_users)))}. Error: {str(e)}"
+            f"recipients {', '.join(email_enabled_users)}. Error: {str(e)}"
         )
diff --git a/course_discovery/apps/tagging/signals.py b/course_discovery/apps/tagging/signals.py
index 1c7705f47a..381d2d4450 100644
--- a/course_discovery/apps/tagging/signals.py
+++ b/course_discovery/apps/tagging/signals.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from django.conf import settings
-from django.contrib.auth.models import Group
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.db.models.signals import post_save
 from django.dispatch import receiver
 
@@ -16,10 +16,11 @@ def notify_vertical_assignment(instance, created, **kwargs):
     if instance.draft or not created:
         return
 
+    User = get_user_model()
     management_groups = getattr(settings, "VERTICALS_MANAGEMENT_GROUPS", [])
 
-    groups = Group.objects.filter(name__in=management_groups).exclude(user__isnull=True)
-    recipients = set(groups.values_list('user__email', flat=True))
-
+    recipients = list(
+        User.objects.prefetch_related('groups').filter(groups__name__in=management_groups).distinct()
+    )
     if recipients:
         send_email_for_course_vertical_assignment(instance, recipients)
diff --git a/course_discovery/apps/tagging/tests/test_emails.py b/course_discovery/apps/tagging/tests/test_emails.py
index ed8186e1f3..56e2c54a82 100644
--- a/course_discovery/apps/tagging/tests/test_emails.py
+++ b/course_discovery/apps/tagging/tests/test_emails.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def test_email_sent_to_recipients(self):
         self.assertEqual(len(mail.outbox), 1)
 
         email = mail.outbox[0]
-        self.assertEqual(email.to, [self.user1, self.user2])
+        self.assertEqual(email.to, [self.user1.email, self.user2.email])
         expected_subject = f"Action Required: Assign Vertical and Sub-vertical for Course '{self.course.title}'"
         self.assertEqual(email.subject, expected_subject)
 
diff --git a/course_discovery/apps/tagging/tests/test_signals.py b/course_discovery/apps/tagging/tests/test_signals.py
index e7b4103136..21072aba5c 100644
--- a/course_discovery/apps/tagging/tests/test_signals.py
+++ b/course_discovery/apps/tagging/tests/test_signals.py
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ def test_notify_vertical_assignment_email_sent(self, mock_send_email):
         course_run.status = CourseRunStatus.Reviewed
         course_run.save()
 
-        expected_recipients = {"user1@example.com", "user2@example.com"}
+        expected_recipients = [user2, user1]
         mock_send_email.assert_called_once()
         called_args = mock_send_email.call_args[0]
         self.assertEqual(called_args[0].uuid, course.uuid)
-        self.assertEqual(called_args[1], expected_recipients)
+        self.assertListEqual(called_args[1], expected_recipients)
 
     @mock.patch("course_discovery.apps.tagging.signals.send_email_for_course_vertical_assignment")
     def test_notify_vertical_assignment_email_when_course_is_draft(self, mock_send_email):