People in the news, Jan. 8, 2007

Katzman out of Kodiak

has left his GP post at Kodiak Venture Partners for a similar role at Commonwealth Capital Ventures, just as both firms are raising their fourth funds. Katzman is a staple of the Boston tech/venture scene, with a long operating history that includes having co-founded VC-backed MyTeam.com. He joined Kodiak as a partner in early 2002, and focused on software and new media plays, such as Groove Mobile, Mindreef and Newforma.

Kodiak began pre-marketing its fourth fund near the beginning of November. A first and final close is expected to occur sometime early this year, with a target similar to its $316 million third fund. Katzman says that the split is amicable, and that he foresees co-investing opportunities with Kodiak. He declined to discuss fund-raising at Commonwealth, but multiple sources say that the firm held a first close last month.

Fitzsimmons leaves Riverside

has left his managing partner post with The Riverside Co. to form a new small-market LBO firm with fellow Riverside alums William Connell and Jeffrey Goodrich. The firm, High Road Capital Partners, is scoping out its first deals. Fitzsimmons has worked at Riverside for 12 years and was an investor in four funds.

Barry joins OpenView

has joined OpenView Venture Partners as a venture partner. Barry has spent the past 15 years with Microsoft Corp. in various posts, including, most recently, as founder and managing director of the Microsoft Emerging Business Unit. OpenView is an expansion stage VC firm launched last year by Scott Maxwell.

Day joins @Ventures

joins @Ventures in Boston as a principal beginning Feb. 1. Day has been a principal at San Francisco-based Expansion Capital Partners since 2004. He says that he will continue to maintain his blog, http://cleantechvc.blogspot.com/, which covers cleantech venture news.

VantagePoint adds Prostko

Rick Prostko has joined VantagePoint Venture Partners as a vice president. He previously was an associate with Summit Partners.

Bessemer beefs up Menlo Park office

has been named senior associate at Bessemer Venture Partners in the firm’s Menlo Park, Calif. office. He previously spent eight years with McKinsey & Co., including as a senior engagement manager in its Silicon Valley tech practice.

Yahoo hires VC

has joined Yahoo as a senior business developer manager. He previously was co-founder of Jerusalem Global Ventures.

Hooper hops on over to Centerview

has joined Centerview Partners as a partner to oversee its private equity business. He previously was a managing director with Vestar Capital Partners, where he headed the firm’s consumer group and was chairman of its U.S. investment committee.

IDG Boston adds EIR

has joined IDG Ventures Boston as an entrepreneur-in-residence. He previously was co-founder and CTO of Ineptor, a provider of search engine marketing technology (acquired by Verizon in 2006). He will focus on opportunities in the wireless, search and Web 2.0 sectors.

Ex-PCG staffer lands at Altius

has joined Altius Advisors as a London-based partner and head of European operations. He was one of four partners to leave Pacific Corporate Group in September. Altius recently launched a fund-of-funds effort, but mostly serves as a provider of discretionary private equity portfolio management services.