Wells Fargo promoted Kristin Lesher, a 21-year veteran of the company, to lead middle market banking, effective immediately.

As head of the east region since 2018, Lesher led middle market banking operations across 19 states — including Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia — as well as Washington, D.C., and eastern Canada.

Since joining Wells Fargo in 2000, Lesher has served in leadership roles across the company. She was the co-head of investment banking coverage at Wells Fargo Securities, where she was responsible for managing corporate client relationships across a range of industry specialty groups. Before that role, Lesher led regional investment banking for Wells Fargo Securities and held several senior positions in Wells Fargo’s treasury and corporate development groups, as well as in mergers and acquisitions.

Lesher will report to Kyle Hranicky, CEO of commercial banking at Wells Fargo.

“Middle market banking is a key business and critical growth engine for commercial banking,” Hranicky said. “As we continue to invest in and strengthen middle market banking, I’m confident Kristin is the right leader to move our business forward. She has extensive industry and leadership experience and a proven track record of building strong client relationships, leading highly successful teams and driving growth.”