Later-Stage Venture Capital and Growth Equity Firm Adds Saydeah Howard
to Deepen Support for Portfolio Companies
Menlo Park, CA, May 7, 2014 – Institutional Venture Partners (IVP), one of the premier later-stage venture capital and growth equity firms, is pleased to announce the addition of Saydeah Howard as Vice President of Talent and Venture Services. In this role, Saydeah will be responsible for advising the firm’s portfolio companies on human capital issues including executive search strategy, leadership, and talent development. The addition highlights IVP’s focused approach toward supporting its portfolio companies and speaks to the firm’s strong growth since it raised IVP XIV, a $1 billion fund.
“Exceptional, committed executives are the drivers behind every successful growth company and Saydeah will play a key role in helping them find the right talent and streamline their recruiting processes,” said Steve Harrick, General Partner. “Her human resources and recruiting experience is a great addition to our partnership and we are delighted to welcome her to our team.”
Ms. Howard brings extensive human resources and recruiting experience to IVP. Prior to joining IVP, Saydeah served as Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development at LeapFrog Enterprises. With global human resources responsibility, Saydeah successfully implemented a new performance management approach, employee recognition program, and rebuilt the recruiting department.
“I’m excited to join the IVP team,” said Howard. “IVP’s focused later-stage investment strategy has made them the leading firm in the industry. I look forward to working with the team and its dynamic network of entrepreneurs to help build world class teams and technology companies.”
Prior to LeapFrog, Saydeah served as an Associate at Russell Reynolds Associates, an international executive search and assessment firm, where she led senior executive searches for technology and media companies. Prior to Russell Reynolds, Ms. Howard served in various roles at Turner Broadcasting System where she managed client relationships with cable operators including Comcast and Time Warner. Early in her career, Saydeah was the Director of Client Services at Truis Corporation where she provided customer intelligence services to leading technology companies including Microsoft, Business Objects, and CNET.
Saydeah received a B.A. in History from Stanford University and a Master’s in Organizational Development from the University of San Francisco.
About Institutional Venture Partners (IVP)
With $4 billion of committed capital, Institutional Venture Partners (IVP) is one of the premier later-stage venture capital and growth equity firms in the United States. Founded in 1980, IVP has invested in over 300 companies, 98 of which have gone public. IVP is one of the top-performing firms in the industry and has a 33-year IRR of 43.2%. IVP specializes in venture growth investments, industry rollups, founder liquidity transactions, and select public market investments. Since its inception, IVP investments include such notable companies as AppDynamics, ArcSight (HPQ), Buddy Media (CRM), ComScore (SCOR), Concur Technologies (CNQR), Dropbox, Fleetmatics (FLTX), HomeAway (AWAY), Juniper Networks (JNPR), Kayak (PCLN), LegalZoom, LifeLock (LOCK), Marketo (MKTO), MySQL (ORCL), Netflix (NFLX), ngmoco (DeNA), Polycom (PLCM), Pure Storage, RetailMeNot (SALE), Seagate (STX), Shazam, Snapchat, Supercell, Synchronoss (SNCR), Tivo (TIVO), Twitter (TWTR), and Zynga (ZNGA). For more information, visit https://www.ipv.com or follow IVP on Twitter: @ivp.