Executive moves, week of March 10, 2008

Bischof hops over to Meritech

has joined late stage venture firm Meritech Capital Partners as a managing director. He had spent the past eight years as a general partner with Focus Ventures, where he invested in enterprise infrastructure, digital media and technology enabled services companies. Among his portfolio companies are Isilon Systems, G-Log, Wily Technology and EqualLogic, which Dell recently purchased for $1.4 billion, one of the largest all-cash deals for a VC-backed company. Forbes magazine recently recognized Bischof by including him in its annual Midas 100 list of the top technology dealmakers.

Howland joins Morgan Stanley

has joined Morgan Stanley Private Equity as a managing director and operating partner, effective next month. He previously was president of Dun & Bradstreet. Howland is the second operating partner to join the firm, following the October 2007 appointment of Gary Matthews as managing director and operating partner.

Austin promotes two

Austin Ventures has promoted Thomas Ball and David Lack each to the position of partner. Ball joined the firm in 2005, and focuses on early stage IT opportunities. Lack joined in 2002, and focuses on growth equity deals. The firm is investing from a $525 million fund it raised in 2006.

CVC hires Szoke

is joining CVC Capital Partners as a partner focused on building the firm’s business in Central and Eastern Europe, effective next month. CVC is currently raising its fifth fund with a target capitalization of about $16.7 billion. Szoke had spent the past nine years as a partner with Advent International.

Carlyle adds Sarkozy

has joined The Carlyle Group as co-head and managing director of the firm‘s global financial services group, effective next month. He will be based in New York. Sarkozy previously was with UBS as joint global head of FIG Investment Banking, and is the half-brother of French Pres. Nicholas Sarkozy.

Chen joins Rothschild

has joined Rothschild PE China as a Shanghai-based partner. He had spent the past six years with BioVeda China.

Bigwood nabs Varelas

is leaving Citigroup, where he has served as co-global head of tech media and telecom I-banking, to become founding partner of Bigwood Capital, a new private equity firm formed by former Flextronics CEO Michael Marks.

PTV hires Anderson

Rick Anderson has joined venture capital firm PTV Sciences as a managing director. He previously was company group chairman for Johnson & Johnson, and worldwide franchise chairman for Cordis Corp.

Monster beefs up with Schrock

has joined Monster Venture Partners as a venture partner. He previously was VP of corporate development for RealNetworks.

Vestar promotes two

Vestar Capital Partners has promoted Peter Calamari to principal and Brendan Spillane to executive vice president. Calamari joined Vestar in 1999, and previously was a vice president in the firm’s consumer group. Spillane joined as a vice president in 2006, and will continue to serve as corporate CFO.

Sun Capital shines on Nakamura

has joined Sun Capital Partners as chairman and CEO of the firm’s Japan affiliate. He previously served as vice chairman and director of Nikko Principal Investments Japan Ltd.

Murray named WHI advisor

has joined the advisory board of WHI Capital Partners. He is a former managing director of Madison Capital Partners, and co-founder of Pfingsten Partners.

Ramirez joins I-bank

has joined Nollenberger Capital Partners, an emerging growth-focused I-bank, as a managing director. He previously was a director with Stanford Group Co., where he co-founded the firm’s tech I-banking practice.