Boston's business elite has been busy this past week. Catch up on who's going where below:
University of Massachusetts Boston grad Ben Fathi assumed the role of CTO at VMware this week, a step up from his previous role of VP of R&D at the company. Prior to joining VMware in 2012, Fathi contributed to the software teams at Cisco and Microsoft.
Cambridge-based Venrock Vice President Matthew Nordan departed the firm to launch a new VC with Chivas Lam and Greg Manuel, an ex-VC with Qiming Ventures and former SVP at Amyris Biotech and ex-special advisor for energy to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, respectively. Fortune’s Dan Primack first reported the news, stating that the trio is starting a clean energy project development company in China called MNL Partners.
MassChallenge winner ViralGains announced that serial entrepreneur Tod Loofbourrow will be joining the viral video startup’s Board of Directors. Loofbourrow has been instrumental as an entrepreneur in residence at MIT’s Center for Digital Business, and recently served as president and co-founder of iRobot Healthcare. Also joining ViralGains’ stellar team is media veteran Sarah Fay, who will act in an advisory role for the burgeoning company. Previously, Fay served as the CEO of Aegis Media North America and has ties to major brand advertisers – connections that will be key for ViralGains’ continued scale.
MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge brought on a new executive director, Lesa Lessard Pearson, this week. Help give Pearson, a nonprofit expert who has contributed to the likes of The United Way and The Global Learning Company, a warm welcome next Tuesday at the MITEF of Cambridge’s reception, to be held at the Cambridge Innovation Center and Venture Café.
Bruce Schneier joined incident response management software firm Co3 Systems as its first CTO. After four years as BT's chief security technology officer and the previous seven years as CTO of Counterpane Security, Schneier is an expert in security technology and has much to contribute to the young company, of which he has advised for a year.
The Boston Globe gained one and lost one this week:
Hill Holliday Chairman and former CEO Mike Sheehan will soon begin pitching in at the Boston Globe in the wake of John Henry’s ownership. Sheehan told the Boston Business Journal that he expects to spend three days at the Globe and two at the agency, which he left this spring after passing on the reins to Karen Kaplan.
Boston Globe’s veteran publisher Christopher Mayer walked away from his role at the newspaper, bringing his 30-year tenure to a close. He will, however, stay on as a senior adviser “indefinitely,” reports the Globe.
Cambridge-based Ironwood Pharmaceuticals is reducing its headcount by around 10 percent to realign its team with a new growth strategy. That 10 percent breaks out into about 50 positions being dropped, leaving the total staff at 480-full time. Ironwood will incur aggregate charges of around $4 million for severance and benefits in coordination with its reduced workforce.
