Calif.’s Ex-GovernorJoins Pacific Capital –

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Former California Governor Pete Wilson in October joined Pacific Capital Group, a merchant bank and investment banking firm, as managing director.

Wilson, a Republican who served as governor of California from 1990 to 1998, will take a leadership role in a broad range of the firm’s private equity investment activities.

Pacific Capital focuses on telecommunications, financial services, media and technology companies. The merchant bank has provided funding for companies such as Global Crossing, a provider of internet & long distance telecommunications services, and Value America Inc., an Internet retailer.

Wilson will join Pacific Capital’s five-member investment team, led by Gary Winnick, the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of the firm. The other key members include Co-chairman Lodwrrick Cook, Chief Financial Officer Gregg Ritchie, and the two other managing directors, Tom Casey and Mike Steed.

Prior to his becoming governor, Wilson served in the United States Marine Corps and was a member of the California State Assembly. He also served as mayor of San Diego and as U.S. Senator. Wilson is a graduate of Yale University and Boalt Hall, the law school of the University of California, Berkeley.

None of the members of the investment team was available or willing to comment.