Specialty finance company Hercules Capital appointed Gayle Crowell to serve as a member of its board of directors, effective February 4, 2019.

For the past 15 years, Crowell has worked as senior operating consultant in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications Group at Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm focused on growth investing. Prior to Warburg Pincus, she held executive roles at leading software companies, including Oracle, E.piphany, RightPoint Software, View Star, Mosaix, Recognition International, DSC and Cubix.

Crowell serves on several public and private boards, including as a member of the Envestnet and Dude Solutions boards. She is an experienced technology operating executive with extensive experience in both industry leading venture and private equity-backed companies.

“Together with the recent addition of Carol Foster, Gayle’s appointment continues our commitment to expanding and enhancing our board of directors with highly qualified, experienced and diverse individuals with deep subject matter expertise that will serve us well as our platform grows,” said Manuel A. Henriquez, chairman and CEO of Hercules. “As a former CEO, Gayle understands the challenges senior leaders face in building high growth, sustainable long-term businesses. Her hands-on knowledge, coupled with a keen perspective into the financial markets and venture capital environment, brings a unique and valued point of view as a board member. We warmly welcome Gayle to our board and look forward to her contributions.”

With its highly-diversified board of directors, the Company is an early adopter of the California Senate Bill 826, which requires publicly held companies based in California to have a minimum of one woman on their board of directors by the end of 2019. Furthermore, by the end of July 2021, companies with five board members will need a minimum of two women serving, and boards of six or more will require a minimum of three women serving.