Sittercity.com, a Chicago-based Web site that pairs customers with baby and pet sitters and other caregivers, has named a new chief executive, replacing its founder with one of the venture capitalists who has a stake in the business.

Martin Clifford, a venture partner at Sittercity investor Point Judith Capital, has been named CEO.  Genevieve Thiers, Sittercity founder and former CEO, will remain president of the board and a strategic adviser to the company.Clifford has been acting as the company’s chief revenue officer and chief operating officer since Point Judith led a capital-raising round for Sittercity in late 2008.

At Point Judith, Martin focuses on internet, digital media and clean-tech companies. He was a co-founder at uDate.com Inc., where was executive vice president and COO. uDate.com was sold to Interactive Corp.  in March 2003.

“Martin is well known for his success at uDate.com and has brought tremendous learning from his more recent experiences at social start-ups Soflow and wis.dm” Thiers said in a statement. “In the 18 months since he has been with us, he has transformed the way we operate and we are certainly seeing the benefits.”

“Childcare is a multibillion dollar business, and there are incredible untapped opportunities,” Clifford said.  “With more and more women in the workplace and growing focus on work-life balance, we are dedicated to making in-home care more available and more affordable.”

Last fall, the Tribune reported that Sittercity had raised an additional $500,000 from a handful of local equity investors. The company, which earlier secured $7.5 million in financing, had opened a second round of funding to accommodate some new backers.

Those backers included:  venture capitalist Matt McCall of New World Ventures, the venture capital arm of Chicago’s Pritzker family; entrepreneur Brian Hand, founder & former CEO of ShopLocal.com; and venture capital firm I2A Fund.

Sittercity.com also previously received financing from Apex Venture Partners.