Merck Global Health Innovation Fund, the corporate venturing unit owned by pharmaceutical firm Merck, has quickly become one of the biggest corporate venturing players in the digital health segment and is dedicating a sizeable amount of its $500m fund to larger deals with private equity and other strategic partners. Given the significant impact it has made over a short period of time, there was a significant number of votes from our advisory board to make it unit of the year.
Category: People
Latcham to boost Schlumberger’s corporate venturing activities
Jake Latcham, previously a technology interface manager for Schlumberger subsidiary OneSubSea, has been promoted to venture principal at the company.
Gaule’s Question Time: Motoring into the future
Andrew Gaule talks to Jon Lauckner, chief technology officer responsible for research and development and president of GM Ventures.
McCullough takes on corporate development role at OpenView
Venture firm OpenView Venture Partners has hired John McCullough to help build relationships between its portfolio companies and strategic investors.
Brothers launches Uprising
Fred Brothers, chief innovation officer for FIS, has launched a fund called Uprising Capital that will invest in ventures that aim to combat inner city poverty.
Kodis leaves Sabic for portfolio company
Andrew Kodis, the managing director of Sabic’s corporate venturing unit, is leaving the company to take the reins as chief executive of Black Diamond Structures.
Ex-Legend MD raises $200m for new fund
Liu Erhai has left Legend Capital, where he was managing director, after 12 years to form Yuyue Capital, which has just raised $200m for its first fund.
Ex-GCV staffer wins Canary Wharf prize
A team including former Global Corporate Venturing data researcher Joanna Slota-Newson wins a prize from Canary Wharf Group.
Schuder emerges at HP Ventures
Schuder joins the computing company after leading AMD Ventures, where he led 13 investments including backing video collaboration business ViVu and mobile photo editor Aviary.
FBS serves up education role for Rosenzweig
William Rosenzweig of Unilever-backed VC firm Physic Ventures is set to oversee a business school at The Culinary Institute of America.
Interview: Saemin Ahn, Rakuten Ventures
Saemin Ahn, head of Rakuten Ventures, talks to our reporter Kaloyan Andonov about the unit, bitcoins and his views on investment and trends in the consumers sector.
Taulia welcomes new CEO
Telus and BBVA-backed Taulia has named Cedric Bru as its new chief executive.
Pruitt joins Santander’s venture unit
Tee Pruitt will act as an investment manager at Santander InnoVentures Fund, set up last year to invest along the fintech spectrum.
Spirit ghosts into digital role at WPP
UK-based media and advertising company WPP has promoted Scott Spirit, its chief strategy officer, to chief digital officer, Campaign Asia-Pacific reported on Friday. As chief digital officer, Spirit will oversee digital strategy, co-ordinate digital resources, investments, provide oversight of partnerships and manage Stream, the company’s digital conference. WPP Digital also acts as the company’s corporate… Continue reading Spirit ghosts into digital role at WPP