Nokia Growth Partners (NGP), the venture capital firm funded by communication technology provider Nokia, has appointed Todd Forrest as operating partner and Bryan Biniak as an entrepreneur-in-residence.
Forrest comes to NGP after four years at private equity firm JH Partners, where he acted as partner and chief financial officer. Prior to JH, he was managing director at Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, which he joined in 2010.
Biniak joined NGP was previously general manager of the worldwide developer ecosystem and application marketplace for Microsoft’s smartphones and feature phones. He was also a global vice president and general manager for Nokia between 2010 and April 2014.
John Gardner, NGP’s managing partner, said: “We are delighted to welcome Todd Forrest as operating partner at NGP and Bryan Biniak as an entrepreneur-in-residence.
“Both have extensive operating and technology experience that will add much value to NGP and portfolio companies both in the US and globally.”
NGP hired Forrest and Biniak at the same time as it increased its operating capacity, partially to reflect recent exits from companies including local services platform Ganji. Online marketplace 58.com paid $2.8bn in cash and stock for a 43% stake in Ganji in April this year.