First Niagara Financial Group announced the appointment of Nicholas Sentementes as Vice President of Middle Market Equipment Finance. Sentementes will be responsible for equipment leasing sale originations and product management for the Tri-State and New England regions. He will maintain an office in Norwalk, CT and will report directly to David Lempko, Senior Vice President of Equipment Finance for First Niagara.

“Nick brings 15 years of successful commercial and Middle Market experience to his new role as Vice President of Middle Market Equipment Finance,” said Lempko. “In his previous roles, he built extensive knowledge, experience and relationships in equipment financing industries, including manufacturing, healthcare and retail. We welcome Nick to the team, and are confident he will bring valuable expertise and that will benefit First Niagara’s Middle Market customers.”

Sentementes joins First Niagara from People’s United Bank, where he served as a Senior Commercial Loan Officer and Relationship Manager. Prior to People’s United Bank, Sentementes was Vice President and Relationship Manager at Citibank and a Senior Account Executive at General Electric Capital Corporation.

“I look forward to using my years of experience to offer First Niagara’s customers financial solutions that are right for them to grow their businesses,” said Sentementes. “I am excited to start this next chapter, and to begin contributing to First Niagara’s talented Equipment Finance team.”

Sentementes received an MBA in Finance and International Business and a B.S. in Finance from the University of Connecticut, and resides in Monroe, CT.