Wintrust Commercial Finance, a division of Wintrust Asset Finance, named Mike Verploegh vice president and business development manager.

In this role, Verploegh will be responsible for growing direct lease and loan origination activities in Michigan and Indiana. He will also focus on developing customers in the food and beverage industry and the automotive industry nationally to supplement the current direct calling efforts for these industries in three regions.

“Mike has been a proven performer throughout his career in the markets that he serves,” Tom Forbes, executive vice president and chief sales officer of Wintrust Commercial Finance, said. “We’ve built a reputation for providing competitive and creative financing solutions for our customers, and we know Mike’s background and experience fit well with the culture we’ve created.”

Verploegh has more than 25 years of sales experience in equipment and commercial finance as both a regional generalist and a vertical specialist in the aforementioned industries. After a 15-year sales career at GE Capital, his most recent experience was as a direct calling generalist with CIT.

“I’m excited to join the Wintrust Commercial Finance team and help them expand further into the automotive industry and the food and beverage industry,” Verploegh said. “I am joining a highly experienced and sophisticated group, and I hope to contribute to their substantial growth aspirations going forward.”