Executive moves, week of Nov. 5, 2007

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Ayer joins Milestone

New York-based Milestone Venture Partners, an early stage venture firm, last week announced it has hired Ethan Ayer as general partner. Ayer, who will focus on new media, wireless, software and interactive marketing opportunities, has already overseen an investment for Milestone with Worktopia, an online direct booking engine for corporate meeting space that announced last week it raised $5 million.

Ayer previously was a managing director of One Equity Partners, the private equity arm of JPMorgan.

Sheehan joins MFC

Bill Sheehan

has joined MFC Global Investment Management as a managing director, responsible for sales and business development in the institutional investment market. He previously was a founder and managing partner of VC firm Ironside Capital Group (which was funded by MFC).

Neumann joins Nobska

Mark Neumann has joined Nobska Ventures as a venture partner, focused on opportunities in Israel and the Mid-Atlantic U.S. Neumann has spent the past seven years as CEO of 510 Ventures. The portfolio of Maryland-based Nobska includes companies in medical imaging, biometric authentication, telecommunications and compliance software.

Morgan Stanley PE hires two

Michael Hehn

and Eric Fry have joined Morgan Stanley Private Equity as managing directors. Hehn will join the firm, and be based in London, beginning in December. He previously was with Allianz Capital Partners. Fry previously was a managing director with Metalmark Capital, which was formed as an independent spinout from Morgan Stanley

Huang leaves GE

Mark Huang

has left GE Energy Financial Services, where he was a senior vice president in charge of cleantech investing. The group has invested in battery startup A123Systems, wave-power company Ocean Power Delivery and efficient-motor startup Agile Systems, among others. There is no word yet on his future plans. Huang joined GE in 1997. The news of his departure was first reported by Greentech Media last week.

Gonda joins Carlyle

Ellen Gonda

has agreed to join The Carlyle Group as director of communications for the Americas, effective Dec. 3. She previously was with PR firm Brunswick Group, where she focused on corporate and financial communications.

TPG adds Blank

Victor Blank

has joined TPG as a senior advisor in the United Kingdom. Blank currently is chairman of Lloyds TSB Group, and is the former chairman of GUS PLC and Trinity Mirror.