Wells Fargo named Rohan Kalbag, a company veteran with deep national and international experience, as head of Commercial Banking for Northern California. Based in Oakland, California, Kalbag oversees more than 100 team members at offices in Chico, Santa Rosa, Sacramento, Walnut Creek, and San Francisco.

Kalbag’s appointment follows the promotion of Lisa Finer, former head of Commercial Banking in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, who recently joined the company’s Corporate Risk Program Office.

Kalbag brings more than 13 years of financial services experience to his new Commercial Banking role. He began his career with Wells Fargo’s Global Banking Group as an international relationship manager for Northern California. He served in several management positions, including oversight of Asia-Pacific markets. While based in Hong Kong, Kalbag managed business in Japan, Taiwan, China, Singapore, India, Australia, and Hong Kong. Most recently, Kalbag served as the sales manager for Wells Fargo Commercial Banking in the West, including California, Oregon, and Washington.

“Given the complexity and scale of the Northern California market and the growing interest of companies here to do business globally, it’s important for us to have experienced bankers like Rohan advise our Bay Area customers,” said John C. Adams, head of Commercial Banking for the West Region. “Northern California is highly integrated with the global economy. Rohan’s leadership will be invaluable in helping local middle-market companies grow and expand their capabilities in the U.S. and overseas.”

Kalbag cited a recent Wells Fargo International Business Indicator survey that shows companies remain confident about the future of the global marketplace. A majority of the U.S. companies surveyed see long-term value in international expansion and expect to increase international business development planning in 2015. Additionally, nearly half believe business outside the U.S. will be increasingly important to their overall financial success in the coming year.

“I welcome the opportunity to help middle market companies in Northern California achieve their financial goals and expand domestically and internationally if that’s their objective,” said Kalbag. “The San Francisco Bay Area, and California in general, experience greater influence from the Asian markets due primarily to the proximity of the Ports of Oakland, Los Angeles and Long Beach, and the migration of people and businesses.”

Kalbag earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Bristol, England. He also holds a master’s degree from University of London, and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. Throughout his career, Kalbag has lived and worked in five countries, including Hong Kong, Australia, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.