Robert Fluharty has been appointed senior business development officer for First Niagara Commercial Finance, part of the First Niagara Financial Group.

In his new role, Fluharty will work with customers throughout the New England and tri-state regions. He is responsible for developing the bank’s asset-based lending portfolio by providing customers with customized financing packages for working capital, mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, turnarounds and restructurings.

“Robert brings to the table more than 30 years of experience in asset-based lending and leveraged finance,” Kenneth Jamison, managing director of capital markets, said in a statement. “This knowledge of the market, coupled with his ability to build and maintain relationships with our customers, are characteristics that will translate well into his new role with our team.”

Prior to joining First Niagara, Fluharty was a senior vice president and relationship manager for Santander Bank’s Greater Hartford region. He is also a member of the Association for Corporate Growth and the Commercial Finance Association.