Ball's To Join Baird

Robert W Baird, an employee-owned wealth management firm, says it is set to appoint Paul Bail as a managing director in London. Ball, who will join the team on February 1 from Investec Bank, will be responsible for expanding Baird’s debt advisory offering in Europe.

Baird says the appointment follows a record year in 2011, which saw the firm’s investment banking net revenues rise by nearly 50% on 2010 and by more than 40% from 2007 – the business’ previous record year. In addition, while other investment banks were forced to downsize, Baird continued hiring, increasing investment banking staff numbers by 17%, from 170 to 199, over the course of the year.

Baird adds that it also announced a record 73 M&A deals in 2011 – an increase of more than 40% over 2010 – against a 2% fall in the total number of global mid-market deals on the previous year.

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While many of our peers appear to have hiring freezes or are actively letting people go, Baird will continue to add talent in 2012,” comments David Silver, head of European investment banking. “Having just completed a record year in the US and Europe, we are keen to continue adding senior talent in Europe where we see tremendous opportunity. Of particular interest to us will be seasoned, sellside-oriented bankers in London and Frankfurt, with deep private equity relationships and/or sector knowledge in our core areas of focus - industrials, business services, consumer and technology. Our stability, private ownership, culture, clear strategy and strong momentum combine to offer a highly attractive and sustainable platform."