Garheng Kong, a former partner at venture capital firm Intersouth Partners in Durham, is the newest member of the board at lab testing giant Laboratory Corporation of America (NYSE: LH).
LabCorp announced Kong’s appointment Monday evening after the markets closed.
Kong, who left Intersouth in 2010, will join the board as of Dec. 1, LabCorp said. Kong holds both an MD and PhD as well as an MBA and a degree in chemical engineering and biological sciences. He is a graduate of Duke University and Stanford University.
“We are delighted that Garheng has accepted our invitation to join the LabCorp Board of Directors, effective December 1, 2013,” said David King, chairman and chief executive officer, of LabCorp.
“Garheng’s broad life sciences experience, ranging from his medical training to his leadership in several venture backed companies to his strategic investment analysis brings a unique and important perspective to LabCorp as we continue to execute our five pillar strategy,” he added.
The five-pillar strategy refers to LabCorp’s growth plan.
Kong currently is a general partner with Silicon Valley venture firm Sofinnova Ventures. He still returns to the Research triangle area on occasion, looking for potential investments and board meetings. Before joining Intersouth, he worked at GlaxoWellcome.
One of the better-known VCs in the southeast, Kong returned to his home state when he joined Sofinnova.
“Garheng is leaving to join another firm in California,” Intersouth spokesperson Suzanne Cantando told WRALtechWire at the time of his departure. “It’s a unique opportunity for him to return home, where his family lives.”
Kong joined Intersouth in 2000. He is a graduate of Duke University.
“[Garheng] joined us while he was still in graduate school and we’ve had the opportunity to watch his career develop over that period of time,” said Dennis Dougherty, Intersouth’s founder. “We appreciate the contributions he’s made – he’s a special guy and we wish him the best in his new endeavors.”
