Operations
Jillian Manus
Senior AdvisorJillian Manus is president of Manus Media & Literary Agency and founding partner of Broad Strategy LLC providing 360° platform building, branding and management for clients including business, medical and political leaders. She has been a television agent at International Creative Management, director of development at Warner Brothers and Universal Studios, vice president of media acquisitions at Trender AG/Credit Suisse, and an associate publisher of two national magazines covering entertainment and technology. Jillian is a much sought after speaker on media analysis, business development, women’s health and politics. As an active philanthropist, she is involved in the development efforts of numerous literacy, education, healthcare and environmental programs globally, including the Tisch School of The Arts at New York University, Stanford Hospital’s Cancer Center and College Track. Jillian is a graduate of New York University (BA, MA).
CleanTech, Operations
Stephen D. Gray
Partner, Investor RelationsStephen comes to VantagePoint most recently from Jefferies & Co. where he was the Managing Director and Global Head of the Fund Placement Group. Prior to Jefferies, Steve was at Henniker River Advisors as a Managing Director, Private Equity fundraising for venture capital partnerships. He was the Owner/Director at Gateway Global Partners Limited and a Managing Director and Head of Private Equity at Salomon Smith Barney where he focused on fund raising and early stage equity. Stephen has been a board level participant in emerging growth technology companies with a focus on business and market development. He has a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from the University of Connecticut School of Business.
“VantagePoint provides investors a compelling proposition through impact investing across a broad spectrum of the global economy.”
—Stephen D. Gray
Partner, Investor Relations
Operations
Thomas R. Ley
Partner, Investor RelationsTom comes to VantagePoint from Guggenheim Partners. As a Managing Director at Guggenheim, he opened the San Francisco office and represented alternative investment general partners in fund-raising efforts to institutional investors in the western United States and western Canada. Tom marketed private equity, buyout, real asset and hedge funds to employee retirement systems, endowments and institutional money managers. Prior to Guggenheim, Tom spent 12 years in private equity as the Managing Director opening and running the San Francisco office of HIG Capital and the West Coast office of Lincolnshire Management. Tom received his BA from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business.
“As the leading CleanTech investor, VantagePoint is investing in transformational companies which have significant impact on the world's largest industries.”
—Thomas R. Ley
Partner, Investor Relations
Operations Team
Gene Gable
Vice President, Marketing CommunicationsGene joined VantagePoint in 2009 and is responsible for Firm marketing and communications. He brings over 20 years experience in marketing, writing and public relations for both large and small companies, primarily in the technology space. Gene was the President of Integrated Media Group, a division of the tech-publisher International Data Group, an executive with Ziff-Davis Events, where he ran the Seybold Seminars trade shows, publications and conferences, and an editor for various technology publications, books and Websites. He has spoken at events throughout the world on the technology of publishing, and has written frequently on the graphic arts industry. Gene is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles (BA).
“It is both challenging and exciting to work with so many companies in crafting effective messaging and in getting out such great stories.”
—Gene Gable
Vice President, Marketing Communications
Operations Team
Alan E. Salzman, CEO
Managing PartnerAlan co-founded VantagePoint Capital Partners in 1996 and serves as CEO and Chair of the Investment Committee. As a leading venture investor for over 20 years, Salzman has had hands-on involvement in more than 300 companies and has held overall management responsibilities for a dozen venture funds with over $5 billion of committed capital. As CEO of VantagePoint, he oversees the investment team, a portfolio of innovative companies, and strategic partnerships with a number of leading corporations. Salzman is a frequent contributor and speaker on energy innovation and efficiency, entrepreneurship and global competiveness. He has served as Finance Chair of the World Business Summit on Climate Change, on the BP Alternative Energy Advisory Board, and held a decade-long faculty appointment as Adjunct Professor for Venture Capital and Entrepreneurial Companies at Stanford University. He currently serves on the Leadership Council of The Climate Group, the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Selection and Green Investment Committees, and the Board of Directors of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. He is a graduate (G.C., B.A., J.D., LLM) of the London School of Economics, the University of Toronto, Stanford Law School and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
“Entrepreneurs are the engine of innovation in this country. CleanTech and the technology at the heart of CleanTech will transform the current century.”
—Alan E. Salzman, CEO
Managing Partner
Operations Team
Lori Waugh
Vice President, Human CapitalLori joined VantagePoint in 1999 and has more than 15 years of human resources and administrative experience. She oversees all aspects of the Firm’s human resources services, policies and programs including management of administrative operations for its four offices, recruiting and staffing, compensation, and benefits administration. During her tenure at VantagePoint, Lori has managed logistical activities for the opening of offices in New York, Montreal, Hong Kong, and Beijing. Prior to joining VantagePoint, she worked in marketing and legal compliance for Franklin Templeton Group of Funds. Lori is a graduate of University of San Francisco (BS).
“I have the opportunity to work with a team of exceptionally talented people with the resources and commitment to pursue big opportunities.”
—Lori Waugh
Vice President, Human Capital
Operations Team
Luciana Castro
Director, Investor RelationsLuciana joined VantagePoint in 2007. She serves as the liaison to the firm's Limited Partners and oversees all related communications and reporting. Luciana has significant investor relations and communications experience, having worked with Bay Partners and Kodiak Venture Partners on their brand development and communications initiatives. Earlier, she managed account activities for a high-tech public relations agency, helping to design programs to meet the specific needs of technology companies, both public and private. Luciana began her career in the non-profit environmental field. She is a graduate of Bowdoin College (BA) and Boston University (MBA).
“We not only have the desire, but also the resources, to truly lead our industry.”
—Luciana Castro
Director, Investor Relations
Operations Team
Geraldine Chan
Vice President of Infrastructure and Portfolio ManagementGerry joined VantagePoint as Vice President of Infrastructure and Portfolio Management, bringing more than 20 years of experience in strategic and financial planning and analysis. At VantagePoint, she has created, developed and implemented reporting processes for all portfolio companies, enabling real-time monitoring of the portfolio’s financials and performance. Prior to VantagePoint, Gerry managed diverse organizational transitions, including strategic planning, worldwide reporting, and analysis across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas for well-established corporations such as Gilead Sciences, Logitech, The Gap, and Pepsi-Cola. Gerry is a graduate of San Francisco State University (BS).
“I joined to be part of a Firm that fosters growth, innovation and creativity. If you want to be the best you have to be with the best.”
—Geraldine Chan
Vice President of Infrastructure and Portfolio Management
Operations, CleanTech
Jonathan Quick
Director, Executive OfficeJon joined VantagePoint in 2008, and works closely with Managing Partner Alan Salzman. Most recently, Jon was a Senior Vice President at JJR Capital, where he evaluated merger and acquisition candidates and prospective bridge loan opportunities. While at JJR, he was also the President and CEO of SSQ Acquisitions, a company he helped to take public. Jon began his career at Bain and Company, where he worked as a consultant on international projects for Fortune 500 clients. Jon is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario (HBA).
“VantagePoint has the capabilities and convictions to have impact on a global scale.”
—Jonathan Quick
Director, Executive Office
Operations Team
Neil Wolff
Managing Director & General CounselWith more than 700 completed transactions during his 26-year legal career, Neil has provided an experienced perspective as an advisor for the Firm’s investments as well as to its portfolio companies since he became VantagePoint's General Counsel in 2006. Neil was one of VantagePoint’s key outside attorneys when he was a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, which he joined in 1984. While at Wilson Sonsini he represented a number of VantagePoint portfolio companies. Neil is a graduate of Oxford University (MBA) and UCLA School of Law (JD).
“VantagePoint is one of the very few venture funds with broad reach across many sectors, a true interest in multi-stage investing and portfolio companies all over the globe.”
—Neil Wolff
Managing Director & General Counsel