Cathy Gao (pictured) has left Axa Venture Partners, a corporate venturing vehicle for insurance and financial services group Axa, to become a vice-president at venture capital firm Sapphire Ventures.
Gao’s new role will focus on the enterprise software, security and vertical software segments. She had been an investor at Axa Venture Partners since January 2017, covering deal spaces such as enterprise software, internet, digital health and financial technology.
Before joining Axa, Gao worked in business operations and strategy for financial services firm Gusto between for roughly 18 months to the end of 2016.
Gao began her career in 2010 as a merger and acquisition analyst for private equity firm Blackstone Group, before leaving in 2012 to join the team at growth equity firm TA Associates as an associate.
Jai Das, president and managing director of Sapphire Ventures, said: “Cathy is a welcome addition to Sapphire Ventures and her background makes her a natural fit for the team.
“Her past experience investing in companies globally makes her a valuable asset as we continue to expand our investment footprint in promising, growth-stage technology companies.”
Sapphire hired Gao at the same time as another vice-president, Nate Leung, who most recently performed the same role at VC firm Industry Ventures. He will be part of the team at Sapphire Partners, the firm’s fund-of-funds unit.