GE Capital hopes Bank of Ireland executive can help it outpace rivals

General Electric’s lending arm hired Ralph Betz from Bank of Ireland to head leveraged finance in Germany as the company seeks to take market share from rivals hamstrung by the sovereign debt crisis.

GE Capital’s European leveraged-finance unit is pushing to expand by arranging more leveraged financing for mid-sized companies and buying assets from other banks, according to Paul Scott, chief investment officer and head of sponsor coverage for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Mr Betz, who will be based in Frankfurt, will report to Mr Scott.