CIT Group announced that CIT Franchise Finance added four sales professionals to its Mid-Cap Restaurant Franchise Finance group.

“These new members of our sales team bring long-standing experience in the restaurant industry as well as exceptional reputations among franchisors and franchisees,” says Dan Mahoney, Senior Vice President, CIT Franchise Finance. “These strategic appointments further demonstrate our commitment to providing trusted, best-in-class support to our mid-cap restaurant clients.”

The new appointments include:

Doug McKenzie, Commercial Sales Leader: McKenzie reports to Mahoney and will direct the newest members of the sales team. McKenzie joined CIT in 2013 as the Specialty Finance Leader for CIT Canada to develop new verticals including the franchise industry within the Canadian business segment. He has 20 years of experience in commercial lending, including franchise, commercial real estate, and aircraft. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Arts in International Security Studies from St. Andrews University.

Chris Jones, Vice President: Jones joins CIT from TD Bank where he was Vice President of Franchise Finance. He began his career with GE Capital and has ten years of experience in Finance, with five years dedicated to the restaurant segment. He holds a BA in Business Administration from Ohio University.

Robert Leon, Vice President: Leon is a 20-year veteran in the franchise restaurant finance industry with a strong originations track record across multiple brands. Most recently, he was Marketing Vice President at Pacific Premier Franchise Capital. He received a BS from the University of Southern California and an MBA from Loyola Marymount University.

Dave Stansbery, Vice President: Stansbery joins CIT with 23 years of commercial lending experience, including 17 years in the Franchise industry. He has held various roles at GE Capital, including Managing Director, and served as Vice President of Franchise Lending for Signature Financial. He holds a BA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Washington.

CIT Franchise Finance provides full market coverage for large-, mid- and small-capitalization finance solutions (from $2,000 to $50 million or more in financing) to restaurant franchisors and franchisees. It offers innovative, customized restaurant and retail financing and advisory services, including working capital, growth capital, acquisitions, debt refinancing, recapitalizations and restructurings.