Boris Wertz is stepping down from his post as chief operating officer of AbeBooks.com to form a new venture capital firm. Wertz, who is transitioning out of his roll now at the online used books retailer, will remain on the company's board. His responsibilities will be assumed by Laura-Lea Berna, Shaun Jamieson and Thomas Nicol in a newly formed senior management team. As a result, each employee has been promoted: Berna has been bumped up to v-p of operations, Jamieson to director of sales and account management and Nicol, currently director of marketing, will take a position on the board of subsidary Bookfinder.

Wertz joined Abe in 2002 after JustBooks, the online book markeplace he founded, was acquired by Abe. His new venture capital firm is being launched in cooperation with Burda Digital Ventures, the German media company that is Abe's majority shareholder.