AAA November 2012 – Page 4

2012 Powerlist: Davorin Kuchan, TI

Davorin Kuchan has just finished a comprehensive strategy review of US-based chipmaker Texas Instrument’s (TI) corporate venturing designed to make the company more subtle in its approach. Kuchan, director of corporate venturing and innovation at TI Venture, said: “We have done venturing since 1996, usually at two extremes – on one hand using the fund… Continue reading 2012 Powerlist: Davorin Kuchan, TI

2012 Powerlist: Tracy Isacke, Telefonica

Tracy Isacke has been spearheading Spain-based telecommunications company Telefónica’s big push into corporate venturing as director of its Silicon Valley office. Isacke has helped web-based telephony company Jajah integrate with Telefónica, after she led the acquisition of that business in 2010 for $207m. As well as business development, Isacke has worked in sales for O2,… Continue reading 2012 Powerlist: Tracy Isacke, Telefonica

2012 Powerlist: Adrien Henry, Blue Orange

Adrien Henry was tasked with setting up France-based water and waste management company Suez Environnement’s corporate venturing fund Blue Orange two years ago. Henry, managing director of Blue Orange, said: “We are a dedicated entity and subsidiary of Suez Environnement, which also makes us small, flexible and quick, allowing us to be a bridge between… Continue reading 2012 Powerlist: Adrien Henry, Blue Orange

2012 Powerlist: Anthony Grosso, Hartford

Anthony Grosso, an eight-year veteran of US-based insurer Hartford Financial Services Group, moved to its venture unit last year as director of partnerships. Before joining Hartford Ventures, Grosso helped Hartford launch innovative internal projects, and before that he was an entrepreneur responsible for founding two companies – CIS Services and Verify Systems. He said: “I… Continue reading 2012 Powerlist: Anthony Grosso, Hartford

2012 Powerlist: Martin Grieve, Unilever

Martin Grieve became head of Unilever Corporate Ventures, the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods company’s corporate venturing unit, in 2009. Grieve led the corporate venturing’s expansion into Asia in 2011, winning his board’s approval to expand into emerging markets, going into India, with plans to expand into China. He has also overseen an innovative strategy of backing… Continue reading 2012 Powerlist: Martin Grieve, Unilever