Richard Yen joins Saban Capital Group as Director in the Venture Capital and Digital Media Investment Group
9 June 2008LOS ANGELES, CA, JUNE 9, 2008 – Saban Capital Group, Inc. (SCG), a private investment firm specializing in the media, entertainment and communications industries, today announced that Richard Yen will join the Firm as a Director in its venture capital and digital media investment group, effective immediately. Yen, who will be based in Los Angeles and report to SCG Managing Director Craig Cooper, will focus on expanding the Firm’s digital media, wireless and consumer Internet investments in the U.S. and internationally.
“We are delighted to welcome Richard to our team,” said Adam Chesnoff, President and Chief Operating Officer of Saban Capital Group. “Richard’s technology, venture capital and start-up experience will be extremely valuable as we continue to pursue transformative digital media investments. In his new position, Richard will work closely with Craig Cooper to leverage SCG’s established platform of media and entertainment investments to realize opportunities across all stages of digital media.”
Craig Cooper, Saban Capital Managing Director and head of the Firm’s Digital Media Investment Group, said, “Richard is a great addition to the team. He has deep experience in new media investing and has established strong networks in both Silicon Valley and Los Angeles. At Saban Capital, we are focused on building the best team and brand in digital media investment so that we can continue to identify leading, next generation companies. Richard is going to play a key part of that process.”
Most recently, Yen served as a Principal at Blueprint Ventures and established the firm's digital media and Internet investing practice. Prior to that, Yen was at Rustic Canyon Partners, a technology venture capital firm where he focused on software and wireless investments. In his prior operating roles, he served as Director of Technology for ShockMarket, a consumer Internet startup based in the Silicon Valley; Vice President of Intelligent Technologies for Merrill Lynch; and Director of Engineering for D.E. Shaw & Co.