Bridge Bank, a division of Western Alliance Bank, has further strengthened its Equity Fund Resources (EFR) group with the addition of Barbara Fleming as Senior Vice President, Fund Services. With more than 30-years experience driving sales and new business development for financial institutions including Square 1 Bank, Merrill Lynch and Wachovia Bank, Fleming will help grow and manage Bridge Bank’s equity fund partners and venture capital network. Fleming’s hire follows the recent creation of the EFR group and announcement that Michael David, banking and venture finance veteran, had joined as head and Managing Director of Bridge Bank’s EFR group.
“Barbara’s track record of successfully developing business connections in the venture capital and private equity communities makes her a tremendous asset to Bridge Bank,” said Michael David, SVP and Managing Director of Equity Fund Resources group at Bridge Bank. “Her vision and proven ability to execute creative solutions for investment fund managers and their portfolio companies will be integral as EFR continues to expand its financial footprint in Silicon Valley and throughout the U.S.”
Prior to joining Bridge Bank’s Equity Fund Resources group, Fleming spent seven years as SVP, Venture Capital Services, at Square 1 Bank where she led new business development, targeting venture capital and private equity firms throughout the mid-west and eastern U.S. At Square 1, she was head of the VCS sales and portfolio management team, overseeing credit quality and cross-sell opportunities of more than $1 billion. Prior to her work at Square 1, Fleming was Director, Global Bank Group at Merrill Lynch, responsible for field education and training. During her tenure at Merrill Lynch, Fleming implemented multi-dimensional programs, fulfilling the needs of bank specialists, financial advisors and client associates, as well as creating and managing an internal sales specialist channel for commercial banking business development.
Fleming’s appointment reflects an increased demand for the innovative and comprehensive banking services provided by Bridge Bank’s recently founded Equity Fund Resources group. In conjunction with offering a robust suite of banking services, the EFR group fosters an eco-system for equity fund partners, CFOs, fund managers and their portfolio companies, working to bring forward creative networking and mutually-beneficial opportunities for growth.
“At Bridge Bank, we believe that one of the most important roles of any lender is to foster a healthy and robust financial ecosystem,” said Fleming. “In our Equity Fund Resources group, we work with VC and PE investors as well as CFOs, fund managers and their portfolio companies, to develop creative opportunities for growth. We’re the hub of the financial network – more of a resource than a bank, which is what really makes us different.”
Bridge Bank is a division of Western Alliance Bank, the go-to-bank for business in its growing markets. Bridge Bank was founded in 2001 in Silicon Valley to offer a better way to bank for small-market and middle-market businesses from across many industries, as well as emerging technology companies and the private equity community.