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Benchmark Capital Names First European Venture Partner

Benchmark Capital has named its first European venture partner in Klaus Hommels, a veteran entrepreneur and angel investor. 

The firm said Hommels has invested in European technology and media companies including Skype, Midas Player, StarDoll and OpenBC. He was also involved in the setup of Freenet.de and spent several years on its supervisory board.

Klaus started his career at Deutsche Bank, and later joined America Online Inc., where he spent several years on the management board responsible for business development, content and advertising sales.

After AOL, Klaus was at Apax Partners in Munich and Zurich.

Menlo Park, Calif.-based Benchmark Capital established its European arm, London-based Benchmark Capital Europe, in May 2000. The firm is currently investing out of a $375 million European fund closed in 2004, which follows Benchmark's first European fund of $500 million closed in 2000.

In addition to the new venture partner, Benchmark's European team has six general partners and one associate