Executive moves, week of Dec. 17, 2007

Williams joins AccelDick Williams has joined Accel Partners as a CEO-in-residence. He previously worked with Accel as chairman or CEO of three portfolio companies, including Illustra Information Technologies (which was acquired by Informix in 1996), Quokka Sports (which went public in 1999) and Wily Technology (acquired by Computer Associates last year).

Last month, the Palo Alto, Calif.-based firm raised $520 million for its 10th early stage fund.

Third Rock boosts staff

Third Rock Ventures, a Boston-based VC firm focused on life sciences, has named one new partner and two venture partners. The firm named Cary Pfeffer, founder of The Pfeffer Group and a former Biogen executive, as partner. The venture partners are Neil Exter, previously chief business officer of Alantos Pharmaceuticals, and Craig Muir, former senior vice president of Codon Devices. Third Rock also hired recent Harvard Business School graduate Jake Bauer as a senior associate.

The firm raised $378 million for its its inaugural fund earlier this year.

CMEA adds partnerBruce Pasternack has joined CMEA Ventures as a venture partner, within the firm’s energy & materials practice. He spent nearly 30 years as a senior vice president with Booz Allen Hamilton, including as managing partner of the firm’s energy, chemicals and pharma groups. More recently, he was CEO of Special Olympics Inc.

Fry joins EvercoreAnthony Fry next month will join Evercore Partners as a London-based senior managing director in the firm’s advisory business. He formerly was with Lehman Brothers, as head of U.K. investment banking and chairman of the media group.

Horn hops over to New Venture PartnersPaul Horn, former director of IBM Research, has joined the advisory board of New Venture Partners, a Murray Hill, N.J.-based firm focused on corporate technology spinouts.

Morgan Stanley adds twoAndy Shinn and Aaron Sack have joined Morgan Stanley Private Equity as executive directors. Shinn previously was with The Carlyle Group, where he led the acquisition of Home Depot Supply. Sack had spent the past two years with Apollo Advisors, before which he was with Goldman Sachs’ principal investment department.

Golub hires SternPaul Stern has joined Golub Capital as a vice president. He previously was with New York Life Capital Partners, where he focused on private equity and debt investments. Before that, he was a member of the financial buyers group at Bear Stearns.

Avista appoints TurbidyTrevor Turbidy has joined Avista Capital Partners as an energy industry advisor. He previously was CEO of Trico Marine Services, a provider of marine support vessel services to the offshore oil and gas industry.

Radius snares Stoffel

Radius Ventures has promoted David Stoffel to partner. He had joined the firm in 2003, after having worked in the healthcare I-banking group of Credit Suisse.

NGP promotes Hicks

Washington, D.C.-based NGP Energy Technology Partners has promoted Jason Hicks to principal. He joined the firm in early 2006 as a vice president, after having spent nine years in M&A and leveraged finance with Citigroup. The firm is investing a $148 million private equity fund in companies that provide products and services to the oil and gas, power and alternative energy sectors.

Davidson leaves SeagateJames Davidson, a managing director of Silver Lake Partners, has resigned from the board of Seagate Technology (NYSE: STX).