“I was brought on to make this as significant an undertaking as it could be and that is the way it has played out.”
Category: People
2012 Powerlist: Denis Champenois, Innovacom
Next year Denis Champenois will be chief executive of Innovacom, for many years the key corporate venturing unit of France-based utility France Télécom before its independence this past year. During his time at France Télécom he has managed five consecutive fund investment programmes and was named chairman of Innovacom in 2000. He also started Technocom,… Continue reading 2012 Powerlist: Denis Champenois, Innovacom
2012 Powerlist: Urs Cete, BDMI
Urs Cete rose the ranks of Germany-based publisher Bertelsmann and its corporate venturing unit after he joined his “first real employer” eight years ago. Cete said: “I have a German business degree, so education-wise it looks like pure business. Yet part-time I am pure geek, using a soldering iron in my spare time. With this… Continue reading 2012 Powerlist: Urs Cete, BDMI
2012 Powerlist: Ignaas Caryn, KLM
He helped set up the joint venture three years ago.
2012 Powerlist: Darren Carroll, Lilly Ventures
In his present role as vice-president of corporate business development at Eli Lilly, he oversees acquisitions, private equity deals, partnering and corporate venturing.
Akimoto returns to Japan
Nobuyuki Akimoto has stepped backed from leading Japan-based phone operator NTT Docomo’s American corporate venturing unit to return home to make strategic investments. Last month, NTT Docomo formed a $125m incubator and corporate venturing fund for smartphone and tablet-related start-ups in Japan to complement its $100m fund in the US. The launch of the Y10bn… Continue reading Akimoto returns to Japan
Kashyap wins promotion
It emerges that Nagraj Kashyap rises to senior vice president, from his vice president role, at the same time as Kashyap is named the thirteenth most powerful person in corporate venturing in our inaugural Powerlist 100 out today.
Powerlist 2012: Johan Carlsson, Vovlo
Johan Carlsson took over Sweden-based vehicle manufacturer Volvo Group’s corporate venturing activities as president nearly two years ago. He recently unveiled a new strategy for Volvo Group Venture Capital. He said: “When I took over this portfolio almost two years ago I looked over those transactions, trying to identify which ones had been more successful… Continue reading Powerlist 2012: Johan Carlsson, Vovlo
Powerlist 2012: Soren Carlsen, Novo Ventures
Carlsen is on the board of PTC Therapeutics and Santaris Pharma, and was previously a board member of 7TM Pharma and Arpida.
Powerlist 2012: Michael Blaustein, DuPont Ventures
Blausteinwas director of the University Intellectual Property Programme at DuPont from 2004 to 2008. He previously worked at DuPont in research and development portfolio management from 2000 to 2004 and as a business director for non-wovens in Europe from 1997 to 1999.
Powerlist 2012: Marc Benioff, Salesforce
This list has attempted generally to pick the top corporate venturing executives at companies, but one chief executive we deemed suitable to represent his company in this function was Marc Benioff. His involvement in backing entrepreneurs through Salesforce – a role in future being delegated – included persuading entrepreneur Sandra Kurtzig, who founded Ask Group… Continue reading Powerlist 2012: Marc Benioff, Salesforce
Powerlist 2012: Amy Banse, Comcast Ventures
Amy Banse has headed Comcast Ventures, where she is a managing director and head of funds, since May last year, leading strategy. This dates back to Comcast’s corporate venturing unit merger with NBC’s Peacock Fund, creating a $750m fund. Banse previously founded Comcast Interactive Media in 2005 and led the company’s online strategy over the… Continue reading Powerlist 2012: Amy Banse, Comcast Ventures
Powerlist 2012: Monty Bayer, Dow Chemical
Monty Bayer became global business director for US-based materials company Dow Chemical’s ventures and business development, licensing and venture capital business group in 2009. Bayer said: “A few years ago, we experienced a fundamental shift in the way we work and the way we create value for Dow. When the Dow venture capital group was… Continue reading Powerlist 2012: Monty Bayer, Dow Chemical
Powerlist 2012: Francois Badoual, Total Energy Ventures
François Badoual became chief executive of Total Energy Ventures, the France-based oil major’s corporate venturing unit, in August. He was previously managing director of Total’s exploration and production in Algeria between 2009 and 2012, and deputy managing director in Angola from 2006to 2009. He has 24 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.… Continue reading Powerlist 2012: Francois Badoual, Total Energy Ventures