CHICAGO/LONDON – April 24, 2024 – Today, Baird Capital announced two new Global Private Equity team hires: Anthony Zhu as Principal in Chicago and Samuel (Sam) Pollard as Investment Associate in London. 

Zhu joins Baird Capital in Chicago from Madison Dearborn Partners (MDP), where he served as Private Equity Director. His experience with growth equity and leveraged buyout investments spanned across several industry sectors, including Technology, IT Services and Distribution, Telecom Infrastructure, and Payments. Before MDP, he was with J.P. Morgan. Zhu attended Cornell University and received his MBA from Harvard Business School.

“We are so fortunate to add Anthony to the Baird Capital platform,” said Gordon Pan, President. “His deep experience and background will enhance our investment capabilities. He is a tremendous addition—from an investment and culture perspective.”

Pollard joins Baird Capital in London from PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he served as a Manager within Corporate Finance, after completing his accountancy training with KPMG. Pollard attended the University of Birmingham, where he earned first-class honors in economics. He is a Chartered Accountant and has a CFA Institute certificate in ESG investing.

“Our London-based team is delighted to welcome Anthony and Sam aboard,” said James Benfield, Partner. “Bolstering our US expertise and further developing our local investment team is key to supporting UK-based companies’ growth ambitions in US. Anthony and Sam joining our team further supports our aim to be the first-choice partner for companies looking to grow globally.”

Baird Capital is proud to be a lower-middle-market investor that seeks opportunities to invest more than financial capital; instead, partnering with companies where it can deliver additive resources, relationships, and expertise to accelerate growth.

For more information on Baird Capital and its global private equity and venture capital teams, please visit BairdCapital.com.

About Baird Capital

Baird Capital manages two investment platforms, Venture Capital and Global Private Equity, and invests in B2B technology & services-focused companies worldwide. Founded in 1989, the group focuses on investing in sub-sectors where it has deep institutional knowledge and leveraging global operating capabilities to support the operational and growth needs of partner companies. Baird Capital is the direct private investment arm of Robert W. Baird & Co. For more information, please visit BairdCapital.com.

 For additional information, contact:

Rachel Berkowitz
Baird Public Relations
publicrelations@rwbaird.com