Mark brings experience as both a finance and legal professional to Thayer Ventures. Most recently, Mark served for over five years as an investment banker at Thomas Weisel Partners, where he helped lead the Internet & Digital Media team and founded the firm’s Social Media practice. During his tenure, Mark advised clients on a number of notable transactions, including the sale of Intermix (MySpace) to News Corp., and Google’s initial public offering. Mark was also chosen to lead the internal deal team during the Thomas Weisel Partners’ IPO, and served the dual role of lead underwriter and internal corporate development professional. Previously, Mark practiced law for three years at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati where he represented venture capital firms and technology companies in private financings and M&A transactions. Mark received his B.A. from Loyola Marymount University, cum laude, M.A. from University College Dublin (Ireland), with honors, and J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, cum laude. Mark is currently an Advisor to Pacific Community Ventures and serves on the Penn Law School Alumni Society Board of Managers, as well as the Board of Directors for San Francisco Plan C and SAFE. On January 23, 2018, Mark was elected to serve as the interim Mayor of the city of San Francisco. He will be on sabbatical fulfilling these duties through June, 2018, and will return to Thayer full time in July 2018.