Baird Private Equity, the private equity group affiliated with international wealth management, capital markets and asset management firm Robert W.
Baird Private Equity, the private equity group affiliated with international wealth management, capital markets and asset management firm Robert W. Baird, has appointed Aaron Rudberg to the newly-created position of director of investor relations and promoted chief administrative officer Scott Skie to partner following a record year in 2007 for fundraising, new and follow-on investments, and exits.
‘The combination of our deep sector and investment experience, our global operating resources and our focus on smaller, high potential companies allows us to create value in our companies and provide attractive returns to our investors,’ says director Paul Carbone. ‘Our success in 2007 demonstrates that our longstanding strategy is working in today’s competitive and increasingly challenging environment.’
Through its various buyout and venture funds, Baird Private Equity makes venture capital, change in control and growth equity investments in smaller, high-potential US and European companies. Baird has raised and managed USD2.4bn in capital globally, and invests notably in the business services, manufactured products and healthcare/life sciences sectors.
Working closely with Carbone and Skie, Rudberg will manage Baird Private Equity’s relationships with current and prospective investors in the US and abroad and oversee its communication, sales and marketing activities. He also will be involved in broader strategic and new product development.
‘This is an outstanding opportunity to join a dynamic, multi-fund, multi-currency private equity team active in North America, Europe and Asia,’ Rudberg says. ‘I look forward to building broader recognition for Baird Private Equity’s distinctive approach in the marketplace and increasing investors’ appreciation of our global platform and the value we create for them.’
Rudberg has nine years of private equity and entrepreneurial experience, including the last three at Muller & Monroe, a Chicago-based private equity fund of funds manager. As a principal, he was a member of the firm’s investment team and helped manage its investor relationships.
Previously Rudberg worked for two venture capital firms and was director of marketing at a venture-backed software company. He began his career in the press office of former Illinois governor Jim Edgar.
Skie, who is responsible for all financial and administrative matters for Baird Private Equity, joined the firm in 2005, having previously been chief financial officer at Chicago-based mid-market private equity firm LaSalle Capital Group.
Baird Private Equity is active in the US through Baird Venture Partners and Baird Capital Partners and in Europe through Baird Capital Partners Europe and Granville Baird, an affiliated fund manager that invests in Germany. The firm has a total of more than 40 investment professionals in the US and Europe.
It also has more than 20 operating professionals in four offices in China and India, focused on facilitating and executing Asia sourcing, manufacturing and distribution opportunities for the portfolio companies of its various funds.
