James Paterson has joined Ares Commercial Finance as managing director, business development officer in Los Angeles, where he will focus on originating asset-based lending opportunities on the West Coast.

He reports to John Nooney, managing director at ACF.

Paterson joins Ares from PNC Bank, where he was a senior vice president, business development in the Business Credit Group. He focused on originating asset-based lending opportunities in the middle market in Southern California. Previously, he was a vice president, Business Development at CIT, where he was responsible for originating middle market, asset-based lending opportunities in Southern California and leading the business development efforts of CIT’s supply chain finance capability across the US. In addition,

Paterson has worked in both Los Angeles and New York at Credit Suisse First Boston, Donaldson, Lukfin & Jenrette, GE Capital, Jefferies and Ocean Capital Partners.