Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc., a provider in customized debt financing for entrepreneurial venture capital and private equity-backed companies in technology-related markets including cleantech and life science, announced it has appointed Jessica Baron to permanently serve as the company’s chief financial officer effective immediately.

Baron, who has served as the company’s vice president of finance and interim chief financial officer since June 2011, was chosen to permanently fill the CFO position after an extensive review of internal and external candidates.

“Jessica’s extensive financial expertise and deep industry knowledge is a tremendous asset to our executive team,” said Manuel A. Henriquez, Hercules’ co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer. “She has continually proven her effective leadership, and has contributed meaningfully to the company’s long term growth objectives. We are extremely pleased to have her permanently fill the position of CFO.”

Commenting on her role, Baron said, “It is a distinct privilege to serve as Hercules’ CFO, and I am honored to have this opportunity. Hercules has a tremendous leadership position in the marketplace, an exceptional team and an outstanding track record, and I look forward to being a part of the company’s continued success.”

Baron joined the company in October 2006 as corporate controller and was promoted to vice president of Finance in October 2010. Effective June 1, 2011, the company’s Board of Directors appointed Baron as vice president of Finance and interim CFO. During her tenure at Hercules, Baron has played a key role in all aspects of financial reporting, financial process and systems design and implementation.

Prior to joining Hercules, she served in strategic finance roles at Cisco Systems, Inc. from 2004 to 2006 and at Levi Strauss and Company from 2002 to 2004. Baron also served as a finance and accounting manager at Dominion Ventures and Dominion Capital Management from 2000 to 2002. She held supervisory roles in the consulting and business assurance divisions of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from 1997 to 2000.

Baron earned a B.A. in Human Biology and a M.A. in Sociology from Stanford University and a M.B.A. with an emphasis in Finance from the Haas Business School, University of California at Berkeley. She is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of California.