Hercules Capital added five seasoned professionals to its investment and credit teams.

Lee Merkle-Raymond joined as senior managing director, credit and risk officer. She brings more than 20 years of experience providing capital markets, direct lending and global banking solutions to public and private companies in the U.S. and internationally, with a focus on the technology, life sciences and energy sectors. Prior to joining Hercules, Merkle-Raymond worked at BNP Paribus as San Francisco region manager and National Technology Banking head for Bank of the West. Before that, she spent more than 20 years at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in multiple roles, including head of Corporate Debt for Australia and managing director of Technology Banking.

Charlie Vandis joined as senior managing director, credit and risk officer, and is an experienced banker and risk manager with global expertise, bringing more than 16 years of corporate finance and credit management experience to Hercules. Prior to joining Hercules, Vandis spent more than 16 years at GE Capital, most recently as senior vice president – Global Credit Risk Review Team, managing a team responsible for $173 billion in middle-market lending and leasing with a focus on direct equipment lending and leasing, distribution finance, aircraft leasing and consumer finance.

Tom Harris joined as managing director in the Technology Group, and brings more than 17 years of financing, syndications and technology investment banking experience to Hercules. Previously, Harris spent several years at Silicon Valley Bank, most recently as a managing director in the Syndications group. Prior to SVB, he spent six years on Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Investment Banking team and in Leveraged Finance in New York. Prior to BofA Merrill Lynch, he spent eight years in high yield origination and capital markets and investment banking coverage at TD Securities.

Michael Riffle joins as director, senior credit review officer. Riffle started his career as a Federal Bank examiner with the FDIC, and brings over 27 years of commercial banking experience, including underwriting/portfolio management, lending, credit review and workout experience, to Hercules. Prior to joining Hercules, Riffle spent the last six years at Silicon Valley Bank where he was part of the team that created an internal loan review department. Prior to SVB, he served as vice president Special Assets at Wells Fargo Bank, as well as multiple credit roles at Greater Bay Bank and Union Bank.

Anthony Aloi joins as senior credit manager, and is an experienced finance professional and risk manager with more than 25 years of portfolio and credit management experience. Prior to joining Hercules, Aloi spent nearly 20 years at Wells Fargo Capital Finance and Wells Fargo Trade Capital.

Hercules Capital is a specialty finance company focused on providing senior secured venture growth loans to high-growth, innovative venture capital-backed companies in a broad variety of technology, life sciences and sustainable and renewable technology industries.