New Wells Fargo Life Sciences Unit in Boston Eyes Supercluster

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Spurred by rapid growth of the life sciences supercluster in Boston, Wells Fargo WFC today announced the expansion of its Commercial Banking capabilities to serve life sciences companies here. The company has named Katherine Andersen, a 15-year finance veteran of the region, to a new Technology Banking post dedicated to Life Sciences in New England.

Andersen, who had served as a director of Wells Fargo Capital Finance since 2006, will now focus on companies in pharmaceuticals, medical devices and tools, healthcare information technology, biotechnology, and diagnostics. She joins a Technology Banking office in Boston that formed in January 2014 as part of the company's initiative to serve technology hubs nationwide.

“As the world's largest life sciences cluster, Boston is rich with opportunities to serve middle-market companies throughout this diverse sector,” said Greg O'Brien, regional vice president for Commercial Banking in New England. “The cluster's growth engine is fueled by a huge pipeline of venture capital plus state and federal funding from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and the National Institutes of Health.”

In addition to Massachusetts' industry concentration, which now totals 738 biotech and pharma companies, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Andersen's responsibilities include the region's deep ranks of academic institutions, medical centers, research labs, and incubators.

Andersen began her career with GE Capital before joining Merrill Lynch Global Markets and Investment Banking in New York. Andersen moved in 2006 to Boston, where she joined Wells Fargo Capital Finance. She holds a bachelor's degree in Finance and Economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Wells Fargo, which opened its Boston Technology Banking office in January 2014, plans to open more east coast offices this year with eyes on the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

About Wells Fargo Technology Banking

Part of Wells Fargo Commercial Banking, 11 Technology Banking Division offices serves five U.S. regions: Northern California/Silicon Valley, Southern California, Southwest, Northwest, and East. They provide a wide range of commercial and institutional banking services, including credit, treasury management, deposit, international financial services, and investment banking for a broad range of companies. Specializations include life sciences, technology, clean tech, and venture fund services.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company WFC is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.7 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,700 locations, 12,500 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 29 on Fortune's 2014 rankings of America's largest corporations. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy all our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150127005281/en/