Wendy Carlson has joined Prudential Capital Group’s Energy Finance Group as managing director of its Power unit, the company announced today. The unit manages a $6.5 billion portfolio of investment grade, below investment grade, mezzanine and private equity energy investments. Prudential Capital Group is an investment business of Prudential Financial Inc. 

Carlson comes to Prudential Capital Group from a Chicago-based energy investment bank. Her appointment is effective immediately and she will report to Randall Kob, managing director and head of the Energy Finance Group.

“Our Power and Oil & Gas units have originated more than $2 billion annually in energy transactions across the private investment spectrum over the last few years,” said Kob. “Specifically, the group has invested more than $200 million per year in mezzanine and equity securities over the last several years as our appetite has increased for risk investing across the power, midstream and drilling and production sectors.”

Kob continued, “We are thrilled to have Wendy join our group. We continue to experience increased opportunity for complex and structured financings in all segments of the energy value chain, particularly the power industry. Managing Director Ric Abel and his colleagues in the Power unit established our firm as a leading financier to the power industry. Wendy’s impressive finance experience and expertise in the power and utility sectors, and especially renewable energy, will add significant value to our team as we continue to pursue innovative financing structures.”

Carlson takes the day-to-day reins of the Power unit from energy veteran Ric Abel as he moves into a new role focusing on increasing our risk investments in the energy sector. Abel was instrumental in building the Power unit over the last 15 years and will continue to contribute to the growth of the group by turning his attention to higher risk financing.

“It’s an exciting time in the energy business, both in power and oil and gas,” Abel commented. “I am very enthusiastic about the opportunity to be able to focus on our risk originations efforts.”

Prudential Capital Group has been a leading provider of private debt, mezzanine and equity securities to companies worldwide for more than 70 years. Managing a portfolio of $71.6 billion as of December 31, 2014, Prudential Capital offers senior debt and mezzanine capital, leveraged leases, and equipment finance to companies.