Bank of the West announced the appointment of two key executives within its Equipment Finance Division. Paul Frechette joins the bank as a vice president, responsible for business development and operational activities for technology and healthcare clients, while Christopher Kelly has been promoted to vice president of the bank’s Equipment and Logistics Solutions Division.
 
“Chris and Paul are well respected leaders in the equipment finance industry,” said James Elwood, managing director of the bank’s Vendor Finance Group. “Their expertise and vision will be instrumental in helping to grow their respective businesses, and they bring added value to our strategic partnerships.”
 
Chris Kelly has more than 30 years of experience in the equipment finance industry developing and managing vendor programs. In his new role, he will lead a sales team focused on the bank’s key program partners within the construction, agriculture and material handling sectors. He joined Bank of the West’s Vendor Group in 2006.
 
Kelly holds a BS degree from Suffolk University and has served on the Vendor and Captive Business Council Steering Committee within Equipment Leasing & Finance Association.
 
Paul Frechette In addition to running business development and operational activities within the technology and healthcare businesses, Frechette is responsible for maintaining executive relationships with BNP Paribas Leasing Services with regard to common clients in the technology sector. Frechette has more than 35 years of experience in the equipment financing industry, including managing international businesses for Heller Financial, Key Equipment Finance, and Sun Microsystems. Most recently he was senior managing director for the Alta Group, an international consulting organization serving banks, independent lessors, and captives engaged in the equipment financing industry.
 
Frechette received a B.S. in Management from the University of Rhode Island and served as vice chairman and treasurer of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation. Frechette also served as chairman of the ELFA Vendor and Captive Business Council Steering Committee. He has been on the board of directors of The Raven Theater, a non-profit community theater organization in Healdsburg, CA.