Deena Shiff (pictured), head of Australia-based phone operator Telstra’s corporate venturing unit, has resigned.
Shiff, who led Telstra’s A$50m ($52m) Application Ventures Group (AVG), has resigned but will be available as an adviser, according to news provider Australian.
Matthew Koertge, managing director of AVG Australia, and Mark Sherman, his counterpart in the US, will jointly lead the group, which has backed Ooyala, Dimmi, Mandoe, IPscape and Whispir.
Telstra’s annual report said it had invested A$10m in its 2012 financial year in IPscape, Dimmi and Mandoe Media to own 31.3%, 23.4% and 25%, respectively.
In December, AVG invested A$4m in communications platform Whispir.
They will report to through the AVG board led by Kate McKenzie, group managing director for Telstra Innovation Products and Marketing, and Andy Penn, chief financial officer.
David Thodey, chief executive of Telstra, said: “We wish Deena well as she embarks on a new stage of her career and continues to champion new and emerging digital businesses.”