Executive moves, week of Jan. 11, 2010

Chabra joins Rho Canada

has left Canadian venture capital firm GrowthWorks after a three-year run to become a partner with Rho Canada, which is affiliated with U.S.-based Rho Ventures. In an email sent last week to friends and colleagues, Chabra wrote: “Rho Canada and Rho Ventures are actively investing out of their respective funds today and we continue to seek new deals that fit our investment mandate.”

Chabra added that he expects to shuttle between Rho Canada’s Montreal headquarters and its Toronto outpost. The firm also has a New York office, and raised just over $100 million for a fund in 2006.

Chabra first got to know the Rho Canada team in late 2008 when GrowthWorks and Rho Canada co-invested on an $11.1 million Series A round for vertical media network operator NetShelter. Chabra sat on the board of NetShelter, and also represented GrowthWorks on the boards of portfolio companies Whitehill (which was bought by Oracle), Xkoto, Paymentus, Peerset and Anyware Group. —Dan Primack

Pappas boosts staff

Pappas Ventures has promoted Sean McCarthy from principal to transactional partner and Scott Weiner from senior associate to senior principal.

USVP hires EIR

has joined U.S. Venture Partners as an executive-in-residence. She is the former president and CEO of onetime USVP portfolio company 3ware Inc., which was acquired by Applied Micro Circuits.

GA adds Morris

, former president of Visa Inc., has joined General Atlantic as a special advisor focused on the financial services sector.

Berkshire promotes Lutzker

Berkshire Partners has promoted Joshua Lutzker to managing director. He joined the firm in 1998 as an associate and rejoined in 2002 after graduating from Harvard Business School.

Smith joins Kodiak

has been named a portfolio executive with Kodiak Venture Partners, where he is working fulltime on an interim basis with an undisclosed Kodiak portfolio company, according to his LinkedIn profile. Smith previously was interim CEO of Rasmussen Reports, and before that was vice president of digital products and services for McGraw Hill.

Dutch firm hires Christine

Rainer Christine has agreed to join Aescap Venture, a Dutch venture firm focused on European medical companies, as a partner. He previously was co-founder and CEO of German-American biotools company Amaxa.

Clancy sets sail for Schooner

John Clancy has joined Boston-based family office Schooner Capital as CEO-in-residence. The firm focuses on growth equity investments, alternative assets and public securities. He previously ran the digital business unit of Iron Mountain.

Hemmer retires from GTCR

has “retired” from Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR, according to The Chicago Tribune. He had joined the firm in 1996, becoming a principal in 2001.

Paul promotes Rubinstein

Paul Capital has promoted Andrew Rubinstein to partner. He is based in the firm’s New York office, and focuses on royalty transactions. Rubenstein joined Paul Capital in 2007 after having served as CEO of Microban International.