BHI, a full-service commercial bank, announced that it has appointed Gal Defes Head of International Commercial & Industrial, High Tech and Investment Services. His banking career spans 15 years in technology and growth sector financing.
Defes joins BHI from Bank Leumi USA, where he served most recently as Senior Vice President and Head of Technology Banking for its East Coast Region. In that position, he managed two teams specializing in banking and credit solutions for technology clients.
“Our Israeli-related business, with its emphasis on technology, is a critical growth engine for BHI and one of our most important sectors. Gal brings to the bank extensive expertise in the unique financing requirements of both emerging and established technology companies. We welcome him to BHI,” said John Yoler, Executive Vice President and Division Executive.
Defes joined Bank Leumi in Israel in 2006 and held executive positions in several of the bank’s business units, with special emphasis on commercial and industrial lending, real estate finance and numerous growth sectors.
Defes received both his MBA in Finance Magna Cum Laude and a B.A. in Economics and Management Summa Cum Laude from Tel Aviv University.
BHI the U.S division of Bank Hapoalim, Israel’s leading financial institution, provides commercial banking solutions to middle market clients in sectors including commercial real estate, C&I, food and beverage, entertainment, apparel, healthcare and high-tech. In addition to its New York headquarters, the bank operates U.S. Representative Offices in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey; Miami, Florida; and Los Angeles, California.
