Pursuit, an Albany, NY-based leading provider of alternative business financing, is pleased to announce Chris Levy’s appointment to chief executive officer after former Chief Executive Officer Patrick MacKrell’s retirement on September 30, 2022.
Chris Levy previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Pursuit, where he headed all company operations, shaping policies, culture, and growth. He succeeds MacKrell as chief executive officer, effective October 1, 2022.
Reflecting on his appointment and MacKrell’s succession, Levy said: “I’m honored to be leading the Pursuit team. Our staff brings decades of experience and immeasurable commitment to their work. Under Pat’s leadership, Pursuit experienced substantial growth, entered new markets, responded when disaster struck, and implemented new initiatives. I am excited for the opportunity to continue to grow Pursuit and assist small businesses.”
Commenting on his succession, outgoing chief executive officer MacKrell said: “I am confident that Chris will be an exceptional leader while advancing our long-standing mission of providing access to capital to small businesses. Chris is positioned to uphold Pursuit as a premier SBA lender and resource for small businesses. Chris will demonstrate innovation by fully leveraging technology to be at the forefront of small business lending and industry trends to meet business owners’ financing needs.”
“Chris’s appointment to chief executive officer reflects Pursuit’s commitment to excellence,” said Daryl Forsythe, chair of Pursuit’s Board of Directors. “Chris’s leadership will enhance Pursuit’s longstanding mission of ensuring diverse business owners have the resources and support needed to grow their small businesses and create positive economic impact in their communities.”
After interning with Pursuit, Chris joined the team full-time in 2012 as an underwriter. Shortly after that, he was promoted to oversee the credit department and ultimately served as Chief Credit Officer. Chris’s deep knowledge of SBA underwriting, credit, policy management, and team management has allowed him to continue to expand his role at Pursuit throughout his tenure. Chris oversaw Pursuit’s administration of the Paycheck Protection Program, which resulted in over 11,000 loan approvals for $780 million. Chris’s leadership has resulted in thousands of small businesses obtaining financing to start and grow their operations.
Chris was a member of the Albany Business Review’s 40 Under 40 class in 2022 and received the Coleman Report 2019 SBA Emerging Lender of the Year award. Chris holds a BS in Finance from the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business and received his Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law School. He is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey.
About Pursuit
At Pursuit, the mission is simple: to provide businesses with affordable loans and resources to reach higher, transform and grow. Pursuit is a community-focused lender where businesses can access more than 15 loan programs that provide financing from $10,000 to $5.5 million with affordable rates and terms. Pursuit is a nationally recognized organization that focuses on serving businesses and lending partners in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Learn more at www.pursuitlending.com.
