Double appt for GE

GE Commercial Finance, the corporate lending arm of GE, has appointed Andrew Bernhardt and Nicole Gates to its European corporate lending team in Europe as executive directors. Bernhardt will primarily focus on cash flow funding for both UK and pan- European corporates, including quoted and large family businesses. Gates will look at restructuring deals for non-investment grade companies.

Bernhardt joins from Barclays Bank, where he was director of corporate leverage. He led major transactions in the mid- cap market and has more than 20 years experience in corporate lending.

Gates had an 18-year career at Kleinwort Benson and then, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein. She has extensive experience of workouts, restructuring and intensive care companies and was head of Dresdner’s international intensive care unit. Her most recent role was head of the European portfolio for the institutional restructuring unit, set up by Allianz and Dresdner Bank AG to reduce the level of non-performing and stressed loans and investments.