When news broke this week that Roelof Botha was slipping into the top job at Sequoia Capital, it came with the low-key inevitability that has become a hallmark of what is considered by many to be Silicon Valley’s top venture capital firm.
That the 48-year-old South African, who was already head of Sequoia’s US and European funds, had also assumed global leadership was a surprise to no one. The formal decision among partners was settled within 30 minutes, said Doug Leone, the outgoing head.
But for Silicon Valley Kremlinologists, there was still plenty to chew on. Botha was named Sequoia’s “senior steward”, dropping the “global managing partner” title that had always gone with the job.