NewStar Financial, Inc. announced that it has hired banker Eric Barton as a director in its Chicago office. Barton will join managing director Thad Johnson and director Jason Wendorf to broaden NewStar’s regional marketing activities with responsibility for generating new financing opportunities with mid-sized companies, private equity firms and other investors in the middle market.

Barton has 15 years of middle-market experience. Prior to joining NewStar, Barton was the head of Portfolio Management & Research-Alternative Investments Management for Mesirow Investment Management Partners where he was a senior member of the team responsible for the formation of a joint venture between Mesirow Financial Investment Management and Mubadala Development Company in the United Arab Emirates. Prior to Mesirow, Barton spent more than five years at CapX Partners as a director-Private Equity Fund where he evaluated and structured opportunities across a variety of asset classes, including secured debt and equipment leases.

“I am very excited to join an established team with such depth and experience in middle-market lending,” said Barton. “I am looking forward to working with the NewStar team to continue building on its established direct origination franchise as we broaden our coverage of private equity firms and intermediaries in these attractive markets.”

“I am excited to have Eric join us,” said Pat McAuliffe, co-head of Middle Market Origination for NewStar. “Eric, Thad and Jason give us a strong presence in the Chicago market to cover mid-sized companies and financial sponsors located predominantly in the Midwest.”

“We are pleased to add Eric to our team in Chicago to enhance our coverage of key markets in the Midwest,” said Tim Conway, NewStar’s CEO. “Eric brings valuable credit and transaction execution experience to the team and will help reinforce our position in the marketplace as a smart, reliable partner at a time when we are increasing our activity across the country,” Conway added.

NewStar Financial is a specialized commercial finance company focused on meeting the financing needs of companies and private investors in the middle market.