Nollenberger joined the company after selling his firm, San Francisco-based Nollenberger Capital Partners, to Sterne Agee early this year. Prior to building his company, which he started in 2002, he served as executive vice president and senior management director of Wells Fargo/Van Kasper where he led the private brokerage business. 

His appointment is part of plans at the San Francisco company to expand in the asset management and wealth industry, the firm said in a statement. One of Nollenberger's first tasks is to hire financial advisors and wealth managers to help bolster ThinkEquity's portfolio. 

ThinkEquity's range of wealth services include asset allocation, investment advisory, equity and fixed income trading and portfolio construction. To date, the company has around $292 million in assets under management.