Wells Fargo & Company announced Gary Orr has been tapped to head its Real Estate Specialty and Commercial Real Estate Services groups within Wells Fargo Middle Market Banking, effective immediately.

In his new role, Orr, who is based in Sacramento, CA, leads two national teams of specialized lending professionals that help regional middle-market banking offices develop and grow relationships with real estate investors. Wells Fargo also has a dedicated Commercial Real Estate platform that provides a comprehensive set of banking and financing solutions to experienced owners, operators and developers, real estate investment funds and real estate investment trusts.

“Gary is a proven leader who is known for strong credit underwriting, collaboration, and developing lenders,” said MaryLou Barreiro, executive vice president for Wells Fargo Middle Market Banking. “He will ensure we continue to help thousands of real estate investors nationwide reach their financial goals.”

With more than 30 years of commercial banking experience, Orr joined Wells Fargo in 1988 and has management experience in lending, marketing, and credit management in middle-market banking and corporate banking. In July 2014, he joined the Real Estate Services Group, which advises Middle Market Banking teams about meeting the specific lending needs of commercial real estate customers. Since then, Middle Market Banking lending to investor real estate clients has jumped 27 percent.

His expanded role includes leading Commercial Real Estate Services, which supports various lines of business with underwriting and closing investor and owner-occupied commercial real estate loans.

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets.