Gordon Brothers Finance Company (GBFC), a specialty-lending business to middle market companies, announced today that Eugene "Gene" Martin has been appointed President & Chief Executive Officer.
Martin is a senior, global capital markets and credit investment professional with over 25 years of experience in leveraged credit spanning from regional, middle-market companies to global enterprises. Martin will head the business and be responsible for continuing the development and growth of GBFC. Prior to assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer, Martin served on the board of GBFC. Former President & Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Dalton, had previously informed the board that he is stepping down to pursue other opportunities.
“We are grateful to Patrick for helping to establish GBFC as a leader in the direct lending industry, and we look to Gene to continue the firm’s development,” stated Michael G. Frieze, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Gordon Brothers Group and GBFC board member. “Gene has a strong track record of building global lending businesses and teams. His experience in the industry and with the firm makes him the ideal fit for this role and I look forward to his contributions as CEO,” he added.
“With the strong tenured team, experience across a broad spectrum of industries and loan types, and our special relationship with Gordon Brothers Group, GBFC has a tremendous opportunity for continued expansion and success. I am excited to take on this role and look forward to working with the team to continue to offer unique lending solutions to the market,” said Martin.
“I have known Gene for over ten years, and I congratulate him on his appointment. I am confident he will lead GBFC towards ongoing success” Dalton added.
Prior to his appointment to GBFC, Martin was the Co-Head of Global Leveraged and Acquisition Finance at Morgan Stanley where he oversaw and managed the build-out of the business globally. At Morgan Stanley, Martin was also a senior member of the firm's Capital Commitments Committee and served as Chairman of Morgan Stanley's High Yield Underwriting Committee. Before his ten year tenure at Morgan Stanley, Martin was a Managing Director in Leveraged Finance at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette (DLJ) and Credit Suisse First Boston. Martin started his career in credit as an analyst at Shawmut Bank in 1990 where he worked on financings for small and medium-sized middle market companies in New England. Martin, earned his BS from the University of Connecticut and subsequently received his MBA from the University of Connecticut School of Business. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Gordon Brothers Finance Company is a specialty-lending business that principally invests in asset-based loans to middle market companies. GBFC was launched in November 2014 and is jointly owned by BlackRock Capital Investment Corporation, a New York-based business development company and Gordon Brothers Group, a Boston-based global disposition, appraisal and special-situations investment firm. GBFC and Gordon Brothers Group enjoy an ongoing, exclusive partnership that provides GBFC with access to the deep industry knowledge and valuation expertise of Gordon Brothers Group to pursue its investment strategy. Gordon Brothers Finance Company is based in Boston, MA.