Bridge Capital Holdings, whose subsidiary is Bridge Bank, a full-service professional business bank headquartered in Silicon Valley and with offices located nationwide, announced today that it welcomes Joel Gragg as senior vice president and technology banking team leader for its San Francisco Technology Banking team.

Gragg will lead Technology Banking in San Francisco and the Pacific Northwest regions of the U.S., where he will be responsible for managing a team of bankers focused on providing growth capital and other banking solutions to venture backed start-ups and emerging growth technology companies.

"I'm thrilled to join the Bridge Bank team at a time of such robust growth and expansion across both the broader bank and the Technology Banking Division," said Joel Gragg, senior vice president and team leader in Bridge Bank's Technology Banking Division. "The bank has deep roots in the entrepreneurial and venture capital ecosystems, having successfully established itself as one of the leading technology banking partners in the market today. I look forward to helping contribute to this continued growth as we seek to partner with leading technology companies across all stages of their lifecycle."

"Joel not only brings tremendous industry knowledge to Bridge Bank but also the creative mindset that we look for in our 'different breed of banker,'" said Mike Lederman, senior vice president and technology banking manager in Bridge Bank's Technology Banking Division. "Our San Francisco based Technology Banking team will benefit from his experience and leadership, and we look forward to seeing the team continue to grow and thrive with him."

Throughout his more than 12 years in banking and private equity, Joel has held positions in lending, direct investment, portfolio management and fund management among other roles within the middle-market and technology sector. Most recently he worked for Wells Fargo & Company as a senior relationship manager in the technology and venture banking division, and as a principal for Huntington Capital, a middle market private equity firm.