Rachel Potvin signed on with Microsoft-owned GitHub as vice president of engineering. Potvin most recently led the data insights group at Google Cloud. She previously ran DevOps teams at Google and built game engines and editors while at Ubisoft.
“This new role at GitHub combines both my passion for developer-focused systems, and my interest in using data to improve technology,” Potvin said in a LinkedIn announcement. “I believe in GitHub’s mission of being the home for all developers. I’m particularly motivated by the idea that GitHub is not only building DevOps systems for elite developers, but also helping millions of people around the world (some only using mobile phones!) take advantage of the opportunities provided by access to the world of technology and software development.”
GitHub recently acquired Semmle, the San Francisco-based maker of a code analysis platform, to bump up security for the coding repository.
— Algorithmia hired Fred Gallagher as senior vice president of sales, marketing and partnerships, and Ken Toole as vice president of platform engineering.
Gallagher was most recently head of worldwide sales at YugaByte and led sales and business development at InfluxData prior to that. He also held senior sales roles at Ingres, VMware, and Seagate.
“Fred has built and developed growth engines for several early-stage startups,” CEO Diego Oppenheimer said in a statement. “We’re excited for him to apply that expertise to our organization and amplify the enterprise wins we’re already seeing.”
Toole coms from Atlassian, where he was head of engineering. He has also led engineering teams at Adobe and Microsoft.
“Ken brings a wealth of experience in managing engineering and development for critical enterprise software,” said Kenny Daniel, CTO at Algorithmia. “This role will allow us to better focus and align engineering, while enabling me to continue leading product innovation.”
Seattle-based Algorithmia raised $25 million in May to build out tools that make machine learning easier to implement.
— Travel network Virtuoso hired Travis McElfresh as senior vice president of technology. McElfresh most recently held the same title at Nordstrom and has also worked at Microsoft, MSNBC.com and Mindbloom.
“It’s a rare event when you’re able to align your career with your personal passion,” said McElfresh, “and Virtuoso offered me an ideal combination: the opportunity to learn a new industry, the ability to explore my own love of travel, and the chance to utilize my years of experience to help drive the company’s digital transformation.”
McElfresh was one of two technology executives to leave Nordstrom earlier this year amid broader shakeups in the retailer’s digital division. Virtuoso has offices in Seattle, New York and Fort Worth, Texas.
— Petriage, a Seattle-based startup that operates a telemedicine service for pets, hired Gary Watson as its first CTO. Watson was formerly vice president of software engineering at PetDesk and, prior to that, CTO at Vets First Choice, now Covetrus.
“Having spent over 15 years focused on helping veterinarians use data to meet the ever-growing challenges they face, I am eager to help Petriage deliver its powerful, fully integrated solution. Petriage allows pet owners to provide better care for their pets without forcing vets to implement a daunting set of process changes,” Watson said in a statement.
— Bill Gates-backed recommendation platform Likewise hired Brian Draggoo as chief marketing officer. Draggoo came from Funding Circle UK, where he was vice president of growth for Europe.
Likewise lets users record and find recommendations for entertainment and dining from friends and experts. The startup is the brainchild of Larry Cohen, the former Microsoft communications chief who is now CEO of Gates’ private office.
— VRstudios brought on Yoni Koenig as vice president of marketing. Koenig is the former head of marketing and brand at VR company Exit Reality. He was also the founder of game developer Gigawatt Studios and was head of technology at digital agency Swirl.
VRstudios raised $2.2 million from investors last year to fund virtual reality systems that can be found in theme parks, movie theaters and casinos across the U.S.
— Mark Winham signed on with NanoString Technologies as senior vice president of operations. Winham was most recently chief scientific and operating officer at Wamberg Genomic Advisors. He was chief operating officer of Human Longevity prior to that.
“NanoString has a rich history of innovation and is poised for accelerating revenue growth fueled by new product introductions and the entry into spatial genomics,” Winham said in a statement.
Dr. Mary Tedd Allen, who formerly held Winham’s role, will serve as senior vice president of strategic initiatives until her planned retirement in April 2020.
— Pike Street Capital hired Ram Nair as senior associate. He’ll be responsible for acquisition diligence, analysis of investment opportunities, and deal structuring and negotiation. Nair previously worked at JP Morgan and Gryphon Investors. He was most recently with Spitfire Capital.
Pike Street launched last year and is focused on growth buyouts of profitable B2B industrial technology companies in the lower middle market that have annual revenues of $10 to $100 million. It seeks majority ownership positions in its portfolio companies.
