Baird’s Institutional Equity Services Group Adds DeSaque, Continues European Expansion

Baird, an employee-owned international investment banking, private equity, wealth and asset management firm, announces that Said DeSaque has joined the firm as Director of Institutional Sales and Investment Strategy, further illustrating the expansion of its Institutional Equity Services business in Europe. DeSaque, who joins Baird from William Blair International Ltd., is based in London and provides ongoing investment strategy reports on the US and global economies to Baird’s institutional clients in Europe, the Far East and Middle East.

DeSaque has 23 years experience in analysing the US economy and capital markets. He most recently worked on the US Equity Sales team at William Blair in London, where he significantly helped to build the firm’s equities business in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, the Nordic region and Hong Kong. Prior to that role, DeSaque served as Senior Vice President at PaineWebber, producing economic and investment analysis for PaineWebber’s international institutional client base.

The addition of DeSaque demonstrates the continued growth of Baird’s Institutional Equity Services business, which posted its 14th consecutive year of record revenue in 2008, despite the turbulent market environment:

• In Europe, the team recently added Managing Directors Steve Holt, previously with Lehman Brothers, and Michael Mortensen, previously with Wachovia Securities. Holt and Mortensen are based in Baird’s London office.
   
• In the U.S., the team recently hired Peter Gunderson, formerly the Head of Principal Trading at Wachovia Securities, as Director of Principal Trading. Gunderson is based in the firm’s U.S. headquarters.
   
• Baird recently unveiled a new sales and trading floor at its headquarters, with state-of-the-art tools to better serve clients around the world.
   
• Over the past five years, Baird has nearly doubled the size of its Research team to 110 professionals. Baird now covers more than 600 companies.

Patrick Spencer, Managing Director of Baird’s Institutional Equity Sales group in London commented:

“We’re delighted to welcome Said to the team. His strong client relationships, deep analytical skills and years of valuable experience will help Baird provide better service to our institutional client base and expand market share. In an environment where other firms are standing still, shrinking or disappearing, it’s particularly noteworthy to add this type of expertise for the benefit of our clients.”

About Baird’s Institutional Equity Services group
Approximately 95 equity sales and trading professionals serve institutional investors in North America and Europe. Baird’s equity trading services focus on best execution, including price improvement, execution speed, anonymity and liquidity. Baird also offers electronic execution and CSA-executing brokerage services.

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 the 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 operating subsidiaries in Asia supporting Baird’s private equity and investment banking operations. For more information, please visit Baird’s Web site at www.rwbaird.com.