CHICAGO, March 8, 2012 –Baird Private Equity today announced the addition of Tom Smith as Vice President of Fund Management. As a member of Baird Private Equity’s Portfolio Management Program, Smith’s main responsibilities include portfolio monitoring, analysis and valuation. He is based in Baird Private Equity’s headquarters in Chicago.
Through the Portfolio Management Program, Baird Private Equity builds value in its investments by partnering with portfolio company management to develop and execute strategies that drive profitable growth and margin enhancement. Leveraging Baird Private Equity’s global resources, the Portfolio Management Program has helped portfolio companies generate millions of dollars of value from their operations through working capital optimization, performance improvement, strategic and shared sourcing initiatives, and supply chain management. The Portfolio Management Program has also helped portfolio companies generate significant revenue opportunities through European and Asian distribution relationships.
Prior to joining Baird, Smith spent six years in KPMG’s Transaction Services department providing financial due diligence services for private equity and corporate clients, with focus on buy-side acquisitions. Smith’s previous experience also includes audit and internal control compliance. He graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with bachelor’s degrees in Finance and Accounting.
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About Baird Private Equity
Baird Private Equity, the global private equity group of Robert W. Baird & Co. (Baird), makes venture capital, growth equity and buyout investments in smaller, high potential companies in the United States through Baird Venture Partners and Baird Capital Partners, in China through Baird Capital Partners Asia, and in Europe through Baird Capital Partners Europe. Baird Private Equity has a global team of investment and operations professionals in nine offices across the United States, Europe and Asia, including a team of operating professionals in Asia. Baird Private Equity and its affiliates have raised and managed over $2.8 billion in capital and invested in more than 250 companies since the 1980s. For more information, please visit http://www.bairdprivateequity.com.
