Mel Gaceta, a highly-experienced leader of corporate venturing units, has joined Nasdaq-listed packaged food and beverage producer Mondelēz International to set up its new venture capital unit.
Gaceta, a GCV Powerlist 100 award winner in 2017, has nearly 20 years experience in corporate VC investing under his belt, including more than 13 years at Motorola Ventures, a subsidiary of telecommunications product maker Motorola.
Gaceta was director of finance for Motorola Ventures from its November 2000 formation, managing all aspects of accounting and finance for its then $200m-plus strategic investment portfolio.
In late 2004, Gaceta became an investment manager at Motorola Ventures, which evolved into Motorola Solutions Venture Capital after the split of its parent into Motorola Solutions and Motorola Mobility. He joined mobile network operator US Cellular at the end of 2013.
Synchrony Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of financial services provider Synchrony that was formerly known as GE Capital Retail Finance until its parent’s separation from General Electric and flotation in 2014, appointed Gaceta managing director in mid-2016.
Synchrony Ventures hired Ian Cox from financial services firm BBVA’s in-house venture creation and incubation program in June this year to head the unit.
Gaceta told Global Corporate Venturing that at Mondelez Ventures he would “make and manage strategic investments in support of growth strategies”.
Photo of Mel Gaceta courtesy of LinkedIn.
