When Dennis Dougherty speaks about anything related to venture capital, wise people listen. So listen to what he says about Suzanne Cantando and the importance of what he calls “information flow” at VC firms.

Long before some VCs generated buzz by hiring people to promote their firms and portfolios, Intersouth Partners brought on board Cantando to handle media relations for itself and its investments. After a decade, Cantando has left to lead Southeast BIO, and the dean of N.C.’s VCs wishes her well.

News about Cantando’s departure and new position came Tuesday.

“Suzanne has been with Intersouth for almost 10 years. When we raised Intersouth VI, in 2003, our funds under management grew to almost $500 million and our footprint of investments expanded to include all of the Southeast,” Dougherty tells WRALTechWire. “This required substantial coordination of information flow and we hired Suzanne to head up Marketing and Communications.”

Those who have come to know Cantando over the years (she started at the Council for Entrepreneurial Development before moving on to a couple of other jobs then joining Intersouth) are aware that Dougherty and his venture partners had plenty of work for Cantando to handle. 

“She handled publicity for the partnerships and many of our portfolio companies,” Dougherty explains. “Suzanne also was responsible for all of our events, meetings, and communications with limited partners.

“She is well respected in the venture industry and was a leader in the Strategic Communications Group for the National Venture Capital Association,” he added.

Intersouth recently relocated its headquarters to a smaller office in Durham from the American Tobbaco Historic District, and Cantando says Intersouth probably won’t replace here – at least for now.

Looking ahead, Dougherty expressed mixed feelings about her departure.

“We are sorry to see Suzanne leave Intersouth,” Dougherty says, “but are happy to see her advance a very successful career and assume her new role at SEBIO.”