First Niagara Financial Group appointed Art Rhatigan senior team leader for commercial lending in New England.

In his new role, Rhatigan will be responsible for developing and expanding new commercial banking relationships within First Niagara’s New England region, which includes Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. He will be based in New Haven.

Previously, Rhatigan worked as senior vice president and senior client manager for global commercial banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.