Issam Dairanieh is attempting to use his role at the head of BP’s corporate venturing unit to develop a new style of doing business. He said: “BP is leading what I consider to be the next generation of corporate venturing – deep collaborative relationships and alliances.” He added: “We are thinking about new collaboration models… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Issam Dairanieh
Month: December 2013
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Kemal Anbarci
Kemal Anbarci became the head of Chevron Technology Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of US-based oil major Chevron, this year. Anbarci said Chevron Technology Ventures had developed a strong position in corporate venturing because it had “stayed the course”. He said: “What makes Chevron Technology Ventures function extremely well is the continuity of the venture executives, which… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Kemal Anbarci
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Dominique Mégret
Dominique Mégret started Swisscom Ventures in 2005 and has been pivotal in the creation of a global network of information and communication technology corporate venturers. He joined Swisscom, the Switzerland-based telecommunications group, in 2002 as head of group strategy and led the creation of Swisscom Ventures. Previously he was an entrepreneur in the UK, strategy… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Dominique Mégret
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Mark Read
Mark Read, as chief executive of WPP Digital, part of UK-based communications services group WPP, is overseeing the entire group’s transition to the digital age, which it is pursuing through corporate venturing and other tools such as acquisition. Read said: “I spend most of my time focused on our new media strategy. Digital is now… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Mark Read
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Tony Askew
Tony Askew, is one of three founders of, and now runs, Reed Elsevier Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the Anglo- Dutch publisher. He has recently become the first chairman of the corporate venturing group of UK trade body the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, which is looking to broaden its approach to… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Tony Askew
Chef whips up $32m
IT infrastructure company Chef, formerly Opscode, raises $32m series D funding led by ScaleVP and including Citi Ventures.
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: John Ball
John Ball founded Steamboat Ventures in 2000 after initially working at pioneering venture capital firm Burr Egan Deleage in the 1980s. He later moved on to head corporate development and mergers and acquisitions at US-listed media group Disney, after working for four years as director of mergers and acquisitions at civil engineering company URS Corporation,… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: John Ball
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Harshul Sanghi
US-based credit card company American Express (Amex) made a big splash in corporate venturing when it hired Harshul Sanghi, who had formerly been head of Motorola Mobility’s corporate venturing unit. Sanghi said he helped establish Motorola Ventures after the phone equipment provider’s purchase of his previous employer, Ucentric Systems, as the “go-to standard for corporate… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Harshul Sanghi
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Brad Vale
Brad Vale has been with US-based healthcare company Johnson & Johnson’s corporate venturing unit Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation (JJDC) since 1992. In 1997 he moved to California to establish its Silicon Valley office. He has invested in more than 30 companies, five of which were acquired by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) subsidiaries. In 2008,… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Brad Vale
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: William Taranto
William Taranto moved to US-based pharmaceutical group Merck more than three years ago as the group made a push into nonpharmaceutical healthcare and wanted a leader to be managing director of its new Global Health Innovation Fund. The fund is off to a running start, having already deployed its initial $250m tranche, and being awarded… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: William Taranto
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Woi Hong Choi
When Woi Hong Choi became chief executive of South Korea-based electronics conglomerate Samsung’s corporate venturing unit, Samsung Venture Investment Corporation (SVIC), in 2009, his inaugural website message said it would be the number-one corporate venturing organisation globally by 2018. So far, his plan seems on track. As part of its $400m fundraising in February 2012… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Woi Hong Choi
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Reinhard Ambros
Seven years ago, Reinhard Ambros became global head of Novartis Venture Funds for the Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company, when it had $175m under management. Today, it has more than $800m in funds under management. Ambros said it had been another busy year for the corporate venturing unit. “In 2013 we made five new investments up to… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Reinhard Ambros
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Jon Lauckner
Jon Lauckner, president of GM Ventures and the parent company’s chief technology officer and vice-president of research and development, is effectively responsible for driving General Motors’ advanced technology strategy. Lauckner led the creation of GM Ventures as a separate subsidiary in July 2010 at the request of Steve Girsky, GM vice-chairman. GM Ventures won a… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Jon Lauckner
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Zhu Linan
Zhu Linan founded Legend Capital in 2001 with a $35m fund, and is now the chief executive of China-based computer maker Legend’s corporate venturing group, which was renamed Junlian in February last year. Junlian’s team of 50 now manages five US dollarfunds and two RMB funds with aggregate assets under management of more than RMB13bn… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Zhu Linan