“Phoebe brings unmatched skill, energy and creativity to her new role,” said Klau, who’s also the director of OET within the technology department. “She joins a vibrant team that is revolutionizing the way state government is serving Californians through technology.”
Peronto and her new boss share roots in the startup world and with two tech giants. Both have worked for Google and its subsidiary Google Ventures (now GV.com), where Peronto held operational and investing roles. Klau is also an alum of Google and Google Ventures, and he has worked with tech startups.
After completing a master’s degree in business administration at Harvard Business School, Peronto joined Salesforce Ventures in 2018 as a principal investor. There, she evaluated and invested in enterprise software-as-a-service companies in various sectors, including retail/commerce, developer tools, and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and blockchain.
“In 2019, Peronto shifted her career to the startup world, where she served as the head of operations for a seed-stage consumer business based in San Francisco,” CDT’s announcement said.
Peronto most recently was with Tanium, where she served as director of special projects and then as head of global communications.
Peronto holds a dual degree from the University of California at Berkeley in political science and business administration, and she graduated with high distinction as a George F. Baker Scholar from Harvard Business School. She is a California native, and she and her husband live in San Francisco.
Filling out his leadership team has been a top priority for Klau since he was named state CTIO in February. He told Techwire in a recent interview that staffing up OET will remain a top priority in coming months as the office expands and refines its work with COVID-19 vaccine technology.
Peronto also worked with another tech giant, Salesforce, as a corporate development intern and then as a principal in Salesforce Ventures. She also served internships in the U.S. Senate, with Pixar Animation Studios and with Google.
A Techwire Virtual Member Briefing with Klau is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday; registration and other information is available here.
