Brad Rosenthal

Director, Loan Syndications, PNC Capital Markets, LLC

40 Under 40 Category: Loan Syndications

Biography:

Brad Rosenthal is a director in PNC’s Capital Markets group.  Brad joined PNC Bank in 2008 through the Corporate & Institutional Bank Development Program.  Upon completing PNC’s Corporate Credit Training Program, Brad undertook a six-month rotational program in PNC Business Credit’s Field Examination group.  Brad joined PNC Capital Markets in 2009 as an investment banking analyst on a team responsible for the structuring and syndication of cash flow loans for middle-market, large corporate and financial sponsor clients.  Brad was promoted in 2011 to join PNC’s asset-based Debt Capital Markets team, which is responsible for structuring and syndicating asset-based facilities, as well as placing junior capital and advising on institutional term loan facilities. Brad is experienced in asset-based and cash flow secured lending for purposes of mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and bankruptcy and reorganization transactions.

Outside of work, Brad is the co-founder and chairman of the Tri-Rivers Heritage Foundation, an organization with the goal of providing children within the Pittsburgh community the resources necessary to build a strong foundation for future success.  To date, the charity has raised over $110,000 to support Sarah Heinz House. He earned a B.S. in business administration, with a double major in finance and accounting, from the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration. Brad holds Series 7, 79 and 63 security licenses.

How did you wind up in the industry? We know most kids don’t say “I want to be in commercial finance when I grow up.”

Through my college tenure, I made an effort to undertake internships in financial advising, public accounting and sell-side investment banking.  The last internship I had, coupled with the pre-recession period of 2008, made me realize the importance of joining a franchise with a solid credit training program and stable platform.  Additionally, I wanted to launch my career by learning about a diverse set of industries.  By accepting a position with PNC, I was able to leverage the classroom-like educational opportunities to further my career development.  Debt Capital Markets has since afforded me the opportunity to implement business school fundamentals, such as accounting, marketing and finance, and the individuality of every transaction keeps me excited on a daily basis.

What role has mentoring played in your career?

I have been fortunate to participate in PNC’s leadership development program.  Through the program, I was asked to nominate 12 work colleagues, both within debt capital markets and line-of-business partners, to complete a 360 evaluation of my strengths and weaknesses. As a result of the feedback, I have had the opportunity to work with my mentor on an action plan to strengthen my leadership qualities.  In a candid moment, I was surprised by some feedback specifically focused on the importance of soft skills in a fast-paced transaction environment.  By having a close working relationship, my mentor is able to provide constructive feedback, based on actual events, which could be uncomfortable in nature.  My mentor brings a player-coach mentality to my development as I work with him on a frequent basis.  I am grateful that we have such an open relationship and respect his feedback based on his career trajectory and leadership style.  I recognize the role and importance of serving in a mentorship capacity to my younger colleagues.

What is the best professional advice you have been given and how have you implemented it?

A work colleague played football for legendary head coach Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech.  Frank preached a daily phrase, and even had it painted in the locker room: “If you take care of the small things, then the big things will come.”  As a rising millennial in today’s workforce, I face the stereotype of wanting immediate gratification before it is fully earned through merit.  By practicing this simple quote, it keeps me focused on diving into the details of transactions and earning the trust of broader deal team members.  Before I know it, bigger leadership opportunities tend to emerge.  I make an effort to impart this mentality to junior folks whom I mentor.  A prime example is teaching the fundamentals of business writing, as it is invaluable to keep a message clear and concise, while being organized in nature.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career?

I have the opportunity to work with professional service providers on a regular basis, such as legal, accounting and advisory firms.  A defining moment in my career is when I elected to establish mentor-like relationships with these service providers to utilize their expertise to augment my career development.  The commercial finance industry is very tight-knit in nature and it really is an open door policy for collaboration.  By going to industry events and forming a robust network, it becomes a seamless process to speak to these providers on a casual basis to discuss topics of interest.