Executive moves, week of Feb. 2, 2009

Blackstone pro joins Treasury Department

has resigned as a managing director with The Blackstone Group to join the U.S. Treasury Department. No word yet on Kabaker’s role or title.

“We will miss him as a colleague and as a friend,” says Blackstone spokesman Peter Rose. “But we are very proud of his move into public service.”

Kabaker joined Blackstone in 1998, and served on the boards of portfolio companies Alliant Insurance, TRW Automotive and Michaels Stores, among others. Kabaker donated $2,300 to President Obama’s election campaign in late 2007, and also contributed another $5,000 last October to a political action committee called the Obama Victory Fund.

Spark promotes Finkelstein

Spark Capital has promoted Alex Finkelstein from principal to general partner. He has led the firm’s investments in 5min, an online how-to video company, and 8D World, a virtual world company that teaches English as a second language. Before joining Spark Capital, Finkelstein was the creator and producer of several television shows and served as a principal for Seed Capital Partners.

New Leaf adds West Coast head

Srinivas Akkaraju has joined New Leaf Venture Partners as a managing director and head of the firm’s West Coast biopharma practice. He previously was a co-founder and managing director of Panorama Capital.

Wynnchurch woos Welborn

has joined Wynnchurch Capital, a Chicago-based mid-market PE firm, as a managing director. He previously was COO of Gateway Marketing International.

Daley heads to Oak Hill

has joined Oak Hill Advisors as a managing director, focused on opportunities in the stressed and distressed credit markets. She previously was a managing director with Lehman Brothers.

Hoag leaves TheStreet.com board

Jay Hoag, a founding general partner of Technology Crossover Ventures, has resigned from the board of directors of TheStreet.com (Nasdaq: TSCM). TCV invested $55 million in preferred stock in TSCM in November 2007. TSCM stock was trading at about $13 at the time, but now trades below $3 per share. TCV has not named a replacement board member, and Hoag did not return requests for comment.

Blue Wolf adds Musuraca

has joined Blue Wolf Capital Management as a managing director. He previously was assistant director of research and negotiations for District Council 37 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

TSG boosts staff

TSG Capital Partners has made several promotions. The Stamford, Conn.-based private equity firm promoted Pierre LeComte to managing director, Brian Krumrei and Robyn Lawrie Rutledge each to principal and Jenny Baxter to vice president.

Boyer leaves Carlyle

Matthew Boyer has left The Carlyle Group, where he had been a managing director focused on U.S. buyout transactions in the telecom space. A Carlyle spokeswoman did not return a request for comment.

Hermes adds Register

has joined Hermes Private Equity as an investment manager. She previously worked with private equity fund of funds manager Kedge Capital and, before that, was with BlackRock Alternative Advisors.