Ex-Alcatel chief turns VC

NEWS Former COO of Alcatel Krish Prabhu has been hired by US venture capital firm Morgenthaler as an expert in sniffing out embryonic technology companies. Prabhu left the French telecoms equipment maker in August after almost two years in the job. At the time, the move came as a surprise, but Prabhu cited a desire to get a better balance in his personal life as the reason behind his decision. According to the Financial Times, debate is still raging as to who will replace Serge Tchuruk as Alcatel's chief executive. The highly respected Prabhu had been touted as the obvious choice, but following his departure, rumours spread that him not being French may have stood in his way of securing the role. Prabhu studied at Indian Institute of Technology, and spent the first 19 years of his career in the US.