Blue Ridge Bank, the national bank subsidiary of Blue Ridge Bankshares, established a middle-market banking division, an effort that will entail the buildout of commercial banking teams in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.

C. Douglass Riddle will lead the new division as executive vice president and managing director of corporate and middle-market banking. Riddle recently joined the bank and has 34 years of experience in commercial banking. Riddle most recently served as senior vice president and commercial banking executive for Fifth Third Bank, where he led middle-market banking in eastern and central North Carolina and Virginia. Riddle has held various roles at Fifth Third, Wells Fargo and predecessor banks over the span of his commercial banking career.

“Doug is the ideal leader for us to expand our efforts in the middle-market space,” Brian K. Plum, CEO of the Blue Ridge Bank, said. “We look for leaders with integrity, an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for service to customers and teammates. Doug brings those attributes in abundance. He provides a solid foundation on which to build and capitalize on significant opportunities in our current and future markets.”

“To successfully launch this division, we are focused on hiring the right people in the right markets who can provide exceptional service and focus on the needs of businesses to help them grow and succeed,” Riddle said.

In addition to Riddle, the bank added the following commercial bankers that will help lead this effort to serve operating companies with revenues of $15 million and greater:

Robert A. Wilber will be the managing director of middle-market banking for the Charlotte, NC, market and joined the bank after serving as senior vice president of middle-market banking for First Horizon Bank. Wilber has 16 years of experience in commercial banking, including roles at SunTrust and First Citizens.

Dale C. Schuurman joined Blue Ridge Bank as managing director of middle-market banking for the Hampton Roads section of Virginia and has 21 years of experience in multiple commercial banking roles. Prior to joining Blue Ridge Bank, he was vice president with JPMorgan Chase.

Paul A. Buckley will join Schuurman in the Hampton Roads section Virginia as a relationship manager. Buckley has 18 years of experience in a variety of business and commercial banking roles. He most recently served as senior business banking team leader with Atlantic Union in Norfolk, VA, where he focused on leading business banking teams in three markets.

Todd J. Eagle joined Blue Ridge Bank as senior portfolio manager and has 30 years of experience in middle-market and corporate banking roles. Prior to joining the Blue Ridge Bank, Eagle worked for Fifth Third, PNC and Wells Fargo, holding roles in credit administration and relationship management.

Andrea C. Stover will serve as senior portfolio manager for the group. She joined Blue Ridge Bank in 2018 and has 26 years of experience in credit and portfolio management. Prior to this role, Stover was senior vice president in participations and syndications for the bank and has worked for several other banks in credit and underwriting roles.

Alex H. Mara will serve as a portfolio manager for the group and joined the bank in 2021. He will work with Stover and Eagle to provide support for the team in both underwriting and portfolio management.

“When done well, the commercial banking business is all about relationships and providing advice, capital and tools that will benefit our clients and help them build, manage and grow their businesses. The team we have recruited has done this their whole careers, and I am excited that they have chosen to join me at Blue Ridge Bank. We will continue to add to our team in these and other markets,” Riddle said.