Wells Fargo Middle Market Banking promoted three executives within its Illinois commercial lending operations. The company named 21-year banking veteran Chris Nay to lead six teams statewide as division manager, effective immediately. Reporting to Nay, Michael Bleecher now manages one of Wells Fargo’s four Middle Market Banking groups serving the Chicagoland area. Diana Williams now reports to Bleecher as loan team manager.
“With more than four decades of experience among them, Chris, Michael and Diana are well-versed in the financial needs of our Illinois clients. They will have an immediate impact in their new roles,” said Monica Cole, executive vice president and North Region head for Wells Fargo Middle Market Banking.
Nay brought 20 years of industry experience when he joined the bank in March 2016 as part of Wells Fargo’s acquisition of GE Capital. While at GE, Nay served as senior managing director for the food, beverage and agribusiness group. He also oversaw more than 100 team members as managing director for commercial lending and leasing in the Central U.S.
A 12-year Wells Fargo veteran, Bleecher has served in a variety of commercial banking roles, including relationship manager and, most recently, loan team manager.
Williams brings more than 10 years of commercial lending experience to her new role. She started her Wells Fargo career in 2007 as a financial analyst. After completing Wells Fargo’s Commercial Management Training program in 2011, she served clients as a relationship manager until being promoted to portfolio manager two years later.
Illinois is a growing Wells Fargo commercial lending market, because the state is home to more than 6,500 middle-market businesses that generate nearly 20% of all business revenue, according to the National Center for the Middle Market.