Sequoia Partner Mark Kvamme To Run Ohio's Department Of Development

Sequoia Capital partner Mark Kvamme is leaving the firm in a full time role to become the director of the Ohio Department of Development, where he will focus on driving Ohio’s economic growth. He was appointed by incoming governor John Kasich.

Kvamme joined Sequoia in 1999 and led early investments in LinkedIn, MarkLogic, Funny or Die, StrongMail and CastIron Systems (acquired by IBM). Prior to joining Sequoia he was CEO of advertising agency CKS Group.

Kvamme says he has big ideas about driving economic growth, noting that there aren’t a lot of people in government today with good business acumen. “Decisions are made with billions of dollars that lead to unsustainable solutions,” he said by phone yesterday. “I want to get Ohio back on track and drive people and businesses to the state.”

He says he has a specific blueprint for change that he’ll be sharing in the next few weeks. Sequoia is naming him their first “Special Limited Partner” and he will continue in a limited role with the firm.

Kvamme was also an early champion of UJAM, which placed second in the TechCrunch Disrupt: New York startup battlefield competition.