Craig Cooper Reduces Role at Saban Ventures

Craig Cooper has stepped down as head of Saban Ventures, peHUB has learned. He will continue to work with the group in an advisory role, but also will pursue unrelated ventures. For example, Cooper’s LinkedIn profile lists his current role a managing partner of something called Cooper Capital Partners (unclear if it’s a real firm, or just a personal investment vehicle).

[Update: Cooper called to say that he will actively continue to advise Saban across its entire portfolio]

Cooper is a veteran venture capitalist and entrepreneur, having been a venture partner with VantagePoint Venture Partners, a partner with Softbank Capital and co-founder of Boost Mobile.

In early 2008 he was recruited by Haim Saban, the Israeli media mogul whose companies produced such things as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and the theme music to Inspector Gadget. Saban already had an investment firm focused on acquisitions and later-stage deals, but asked Cooper to help launch an early-stage practice focused on digital media. Saban also hired Blueprint Ventures alum Richard Yen as a director.

Since then, however, Saban Ventures has been very quiet. Its website reports just four portfolio companies, including one still in stealth mode. Moreover, the only recent noise from Haim Saban involved a new $500 million platform that will acquire assets in the brand management and licensing space.

As of now, it would appear that Yen will become the group’s only remaining full-timer (at least in the short-term). Could mean a bit of focus shift from SoCal to NorCal, as Cooper/Saban were based in Los Angeles while Yen is based in San Francisco. Neither Yen nor Cooper returned requests for comment.