BB&T said it has named Russell (Russ) Brant as a commercial finance specialist who will be responsible for directing the group’s indirect growth initiatives as well as working with BB&T’s Capital Markets and Corporate Banking groups to expand the bank’s asset-based lending coverage and product offerings.

Brant brings more than 25 years of asset-based lending and corporate finance experience to his new role.

He earned his Bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. Francis University and his MBA from the College of William and Mary. He also is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program at the University of Virginia’s Colgate Darden Graduate School of Business and is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt.

Brant is a member of the Commercial Finance Association, Turnaround Management Association, Association of Corporate Growth and American Bankruptcy Institute.