Baird Names Denise Wypiszenski Chief Operating Officer of Private Wealth Management

MILWAUKEE, Nov 02, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Baird, an employee-owned international wealth management, capital markets, asset management and private equity firm, announced today it has added Denise Wypiszenski as Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer of Baird's Private Wealth Management group.

Wypiszenski will focus on supporting Baird's Financial Advisors and branch offices nationwide to better serve clients and grow the business. She also will help advance ongoing recruitment, financial advisor training and other key strategic initiatives. Click here to read the full news release.

Most recently Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Western Division of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, a division of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), Wypiszenski began her industry career in 1993 as a financial advisor. She developed and managed a book of business that put her in the top of her hiring class before taking on the role of National Training Officer at Smith Barney. She went on to serve in executive roles ranging from branch and sales management to recruiting and operations at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and its predecessor firms.

Baird's Private Wealth Management group has added nearly 100 Financial Advisors since the beginning of 2009, the vast majority of whom are industry veterans.

Beyond adding talent, Baird has also opened new Private Wealth Management offices in other key markets including Winston-Salem, Denver, Sacramento, Calif., Baltimore and Easton, Md., Minnetonka, Minn., and Philadelphia, and announced plans to open offices in San Francisco and Nevada. Some of Baird's other businesses including Investment Banking and Public Finance have opened offices in these new markets as well.

About Baird Baird is an employee-owned, international wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm with offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Established in 1919, Baird has more than 2,400 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients.

Baird oversees and manages client assets of more than $66 billion. Committed to being a great place to work, Baird ranked number 14 on FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2009 -- its sixth consecutive year on the list.

Baird's principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. in the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has an operating subsidiary in Asia supporting Baird's private equity operations. For more information, please visit Baird's Web site at www.rwbaird.com.

SOURCE: Baird CONTACT: Anne Crago, Baird Public Relations [phone] [e-mail] Copyright Business Wire 2009 -0- KEYWORD: United States

North America

Wisconsin INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Professional Services

Finance SUBJECT CODE: Personnel