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DFJ Mercury Promotes Venture Partner In San Diego

DFJ Mercury, one of the affiliate venture firms of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, said Tuesday that it has promoted a venture partner who will be splitting his time between La Jolla and Houston, its headquarters. The firm--which invests in seed and early stage venture capital--said that it has promoted Russ Lebovitz, Ph.D., to Venture Partner, from his prior role as a venture advisor to the company. Lebovitz will split his time between an office in La Jolla and DFJ Mercury's headquarters. Lebovitz is CEO of Marval Biosciences, founder of Imagnx, and has served as President and CEO of C-Sixty, and CEO of Tego Biosciences. He has also served at such companies as Royal Dutch Shell, Nextel, Cingular Wireless, Johnson & Johnson, Compaq Computer, and JP Morgan Chase. The firm said Lebovitz will focus on investments in developing and originating science-based investment themes and startup opportunities. DFJ Mercury did not say how much the new role for Lebovitz will affect its investments in Southern California, however, the company has invested in such diverse companies as Monrovia-based Prolacta Biosciences and iPhone game creation firm GameSalad.