Soren Carlsen is managing partner of Novo Ventures and Novo Seeds, corporate venturing units of Denmark-based drugs company Novo. In 2000, he establish Novo’s venture activities. Carlsen is on the board of PTC Therapeutics and Santaris Pharma, and was previously a board member at 7TM Pharma and Arpida. In 1994, he was made head of… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Soren Carlsen, Novo Ventures
Month: December 2013
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Adam Brotman, Starbucks
As chief digital officer of US-headquartered coffee chain Starbucks, Adam Brotman hit the headlines in 2012 for brokering a big corporate venturing deal to invest in and partner fast-growing mobile payments company Square. Brotman implemented a fast roll-out of the mobile payments system using Square across Starbucks, which he defended to news provider Fast Company,… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Adam Brotman, Starbucks
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Fred Brothers, FIS
Fred Brothers, chief innovation officer of US-based payments company FIS, has said he would like the company to be one of the biggest venture investors in fin-tech. This could see him make a big impact in corporate venturing, after he took on the chief innovation officer role in 2012 last year. At FIS, Brothers has… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Fred Brothers, FIS
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Michael Blaustein, Dupont Ventures
Michael Blaustein is managing director of DuPont Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the chemical company. He looks for access to technology through start-ups, universities and other openinnovation third parties. He was director of the University Intellectual Property Programme at DuPont from 2004 to 2008. He previously worked at DuPont in research and development portfolio… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Michael Blaustein, Dupont Ventures
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: François Badoual, Total Energy Ventures
François Badoual became chief executive of Total Energy Ventures, the France-based oil major’s corporate venturing unit, in August. The team at Total Energy Ventures has a broad mandate. Badoual said: “We are chasing all kinds of energy innovation opportunities. This is not just the clean-tech space but also our classical focus of oil and gas.… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: François Badoual, Total Energy Ventures
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Sakae Asanuma, Astellas Venture Management
Sakae Asanuma, chief executive of Astellas Venture Management, joined the corporate venturing unit of the Japan-based pharmaceutical company in 2011. He was previously a director at Yasuda Enterprise Development America, a venture firm backed by Japan-based insurers Sompo Japan Insurance and Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance. He worked at Yasuda Enterprise Development America from 2000 to… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Sakae Asanuma, Astellas Venture Management
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Michael Zeisser, Alibaba
Michael Zeisser became chairman of Alibaba’s US investments this year. He is a senior vice- president at US-based media company Liberty Media, where he has worked since 2003. Before this he was a partner at consultancy firm McKinsey & Co between 1991 and 2003. He sits on many company boards, including travel guide Trip Advisor.… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Michael Zeisser, Alibaba
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Geert Van de Wouw, Shell
Geert Van de Wouw became managing director of Shell Technology Ventures in April last year. He has previously worked across Shell since joining it in 2003. He led Shell’s supply chain response to economic turmoil in Europe during the winter of 2011-12 and the spring of 2013. What is the future of your sector? Van… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Geert Van de Wouw, Shell
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Pieter Wolters, DSM Venturing
Pieter Wolters joined DSM Venturing as its head last year, replacing Marcel Lubben, after a career as an entrepreneur. Wolters said: “I have been a start-up executive for the past 15 years. I have spent the last eight of that in the US. Right now it is business as usual at DSM after 10 years.… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Pieter Wolters, DSM Venturing
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Kent Wilkinson, Natural Gas Ventures
Kent Wilkinson, vice-president of Natural Gas Ventures, the $1bn corporate venturing unit of power producer Chesapeake Energy, is responsible for finding, championing, funding and implementing strategies and infrastructure that increase demand for natural gas in the US. He is also accountable for Peake Fuel Solutions and manages the company’s corporate venturing investments in Nasdaq-listed Clean… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Kent Wilkinson, Natural Gas Ventures
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Gunnar Weikert, Inventages
Gunnar Weikert is the founder and executive chairman of Switzerland-based consumer goods company Nestlé’s corporate venturing unit, Inventages, which has $1.5bn under management. He was previously global head for life sciences deals at Germany-based healthcare company Bayer. At Bayer, he oversaw venture investments and collaborations “representing some of the biggest deals between big pharma and… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Gunnar Weikert, Inventages
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Jim Weaver, Alticor Corporate Enterprises
As managing director of US-based Alticor’s corporate enterprises holding company, part of the Amway group of companies, Jim Weaver has for the past six and a half years managed a portfolio of companies focusing on consumer health, wellness and beauty. He is responsible for managing the current portfolio of seven companies as well as directing… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Jim Weaver, Alticor Corporate Enterprises
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: David Wallerstein, Tencent
As senior executive vice-president at China-based internet portal Tencent, David Wallerstein said he aspired to “create China’s leading internet company”. Outlining his method, he said: “We seek to identify the best technologies, applications, content, ideas and practices from around the world – in addition to China – to ensure we never fail to exceed user… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: David Wallerstein, Tencent
GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Deryck van Rensburg, Coca-Cola Venturing and Emerging Brands
As president and general manager of venturing and emerging brands, Deryck van Rensburg has been in his corporate venturing role at US-based soft drinks company Coca-Cola North America for six years. He has worked in the consumer product goods (CPG) industry for 26 years, first at Anglo- Dutch group Unilever and now at Coca-Cola. His… Continue reading GCV Powerlist™ 2013: Deryck van Rensburg, Coca-Cola Venturing and Emerging Brands