Daversa Partners Names First President

March 7, 2022 – Daversa Partners, which helps build leadership teams for growth and venture-backed companies, has appointed Laura Kinder as its first president. “Laura’s promotion comes at a time of expansive global growth for the company and the clients we serve,” said Paul Daversa, founder and chief executive officer. “She has acted as a key member on our oversight committee and is an invaluable strategic advisor. Laura is that rare breed of leader that brings market insights, operational discipline, and focus that will expand our footprint. I am thrilled to welcome such an exceptional proven operating executive and industry veteran to help shape our firm’s strategy,” he said. In her new position, Ms. Kinder will continue to serve her client base. She will take on the added responsibilities of operational oversight, business expansion, and strategic partnerships.

Ms. Kinder joined Daversa in 2005. At 28, she became the youngest woman in the firm’s history to make partner. She is recognized as one of Crain’s Most Notable Women in Tech. Ms. Kinder, who runs a national practice, was instrumental in building out and establishing Daversa Partners as an early leader in recruiting topflight talent to Silicon Valley. Over the last 15-plus years, she has completed more than 1,000 executive searches for both consumer and B2B businesses and serves as a trusted partner to top investors like Bond, Thrive, Venrock, NEA, A16Z, and Inspired Capital. Additionally, she has built the leadership teams for transformative companies including Square, Nike, Dapper Labs, Airtable, Peloton, Modern Fertility, and Oscar.

“It has been an absolute privilege to watch Laura flourish throughout her career and grow into this awe-inspiring leader,” said Maryanne Martire, 20-year partner at Daversa Partners. “From associate, to partner, to president, she has undoubtedly earned her place as an industry leader. Laura has built some of the most influential leadership teams of this generation, while cultivating deep rooted and long-lasting relationships with her clients and throughout Silicon Valley. On behalf of the partnership, I would like to extend a sincere congratulations to our friend and colleague,” she said.

“I am truly excited to dive into this new role and marry nearly two decades of search expertise with operational oversight, business expansion, and strategic partnership planning,” said Ms. Kinder. “Having joined the firm in 2005, I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of this incredible growth journey while witnessing the long-lasting impact Daversa Partners has and continues to have on the tech industry.”

“I am proud to be with a firm that amplifies their employees’ voices, promotes diversity, and has never been a place where the notion of a ‘glass ceiling’ exists,” Ms. Kinder said. “It feels especially apropos to announce this during the first week of Women’s History Month as I have made it my personal mission to ‘pay it forward’ to the incredible women that make up our ecosystem – and especially the women at Daversa who make up 64 percent of our firm.”

“Paul, thank you for your leadership, mentorship, and support over the years,” said Ms. Kinder. “You lead by example and care deeply about people and culture, one that I have been fortunate enough to have helped shape during my time with the firm. I could not be more excited to continue to build Daversa Partners with you and the rest of the leadership team.”

Related: Daversa Partners Names VP of Marketing and Communications

Daversa Partners, founded in 1993, builds executive teams for growth stage and venture backed companies. Its global footprint spans two continents and eight offices, giving its teams visibility into the entirety of the market. Daversa is dedicated to developing meaningful relationships with entrepreneurs, executives and investors across consumer and enterprise businesses. In addition to its primary location in Westport, Conn., the firm has offices in New York; San Francisco; Washington, D.C.; Orlando, FL; London; and Waterford, Conn. where the firm maintains a data and people analytics facility.

New Business Unit

Daversa Partners recently launched Dreamscape, a business unit dedicated to advancing black representation on the boards and executive teams of companies and investing firms in technology. To lead the business, Daversa named industry veteran Clinton Browning as its newest partner and head of Dreamscape.

Related: Daversa Partners Appoints CPO and CFO

“In the 30 years since I have been working in executive search, this has been the most impactful initiative and largest standalone division that Daversa Partners has ever built,” said Mr. Daversa. “Dreamscape is intently focused on industry-wide equity and transformation. By working in partnership with CEOs, founders, and investors who are committed to making sure that there is black representation at the leadership level, we believe that Dreamscape can serve as a catalyst for change within the most important tech companies of our generation.”

A New Twist on Recruiting Diverse Teams Across the Technology Ecosystem
Everyone wants to diversify their executive teams. But according to one top search firm, it is a growing requirement for technology businesses. Three leaders in the space – Lindsay Angelillo, managing director of executive search firm Daversa Partners; Yvette Pasqua, CTO of EXOS; and Christina Wick, vice president of engineering at Vista, address how to help deliver change with speed and efficiency.

Dreamscape’s network consists of more than 3,000 connections and its early partners include mission driven companies such as Brex, Robinhood, AppLovin, and venture capital firms such as Venrock and Greylock Partners, all of whom have hired board members or executives through Dreamscape.

Related: Daversa Partners Names Managing Director

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media