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Baird Private Equity is one of the only private equity firms with the breadth and depth of global experience and resources focused on the lower middle market. The Baird Private Equity team includes over 60 investment and operating professioinals operating in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Baird Private Equity is sector focused with deep industry knowledge and a successful track record of investing in Business Services, Manufactured Products and Healthcare companies. Over 30 investment professionals in the United States, Europe and Asia are complemented by operating partners and senior advisors. Our dedicated team of 15 operating professionals in China and India, allow us to provide our portfolio companies with unique access to Asia sales/distribution, sourcing, and manufacturing opportunities. Learn more about us below.
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Managing Partner
312-609-5498
Gordon is the Managing Partner of Baird Capital. Gordon concentrates on acquisition opportunities in the Industrial and Consumer Products sector with a particular focus in consumer and healthcare companies. Gordon serves as the Chairman of the Investment Committee for Baird's U.S. Private Equity and Venture Capital groups. Gordon also oversees Baird's Asia operations team, which provides manufacturing, sales and distribution support to portfolio companies in Asia.
Prior to joining Baird, he served as a principal with One Equity Partners. Gordon was also the founder and CEO of The Pangaea Group, an international consulting firm, which specialized in assisting the portfolio companies of private equity firms to establish strategic alliances in China.
Gordon currently serves on the Board of Directors of Backyard Leisure Holdings, Ellman International, Medical Education Technologies, Inc., NAC Marketing, Inc (New Vitality) and Baird Asia Limited.
Gordon earned a BA in Economics and Asian Studies from Colgate University, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, with a concentration in Finance and Management Strategy.
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Partner
+86 21 6182 0987
Brett Tucker is Partner with Baird Capital's China Growth Equity team and has been doing business in China since he first lived there in the mid 1990s. Brett joined Baird Capitalin 2003 and spent his first four years at Baird working on US leveraged buyouts and helping US management teams develop and execute their China strategy. Prior to joining Baird Capital, Brett spent three years in Shanghai with Pacific Rim Resources, providing investment advisory and market entry strategy services to U.S. and European multinational clients seeking to expand their business in Asia. Brett also spent three years in operating, management and business development roles at a California-based technology company, Telephia. Brett sits on the boards of Frontage Laboratories, Kindstar Globalgene and ACG China. He earned a BA in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. He also earned an MBA from the Wharton School and an MA in International Studies with a focus on East Asia from the Joseph H. Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania. He speaks Mandarin Chinese.
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Partner
+86 21 6182 0988
Huaming Gu is a Partner with Baird Capital. Prior to joining Baird Capital, Huaming was a Senior Vice President at EQT Partners Asia Limited, a China-focused buyout fund. Before that, Huaming was the General Manager of China sales and marketing at General Electric Advanced Materials Automotive in Shanghai, responsible for growing GE’s plastics business in China’s automotive markets. Huaming also worked for Emerson Electric in strategic planning and business acquisition and development. From 1992 to 1996, he was an investment banking associate at Hilliard Lyons. Huaming currently sits on board of Beijing ADG Scaffolding Engineering Co. and Xinghe Valve Co. Huaming holds an MBA from the University of Kentucky and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the Renmin University of China in Beijing.
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Venture Partner
+86 21 6182 3759
Jason Zhao joined Baird Capital's China Growth Equity team as Venture Partner in 2012. Prior to Joining Baird Capital, he was with Cybernaut Capital Management Ltd., focusing on High Tech Manufacturing and Business Services investments in China as a General Partner. Prior to Cybernaut, Jason was a Vice President of Strategy at Spreadtrum communications (SPRD). Before that, he spent ten years with multinational corporations in US and China, such as Sinopec, Motorola and Marconi, in operation functions ranging from engineering, supply chain management to marketing.
Jason holds MBA from University of Chicago, Master of Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University, Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from Tianjin University in China.
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Principal
Yongshan Zhang joined Baird Capital's China Growth Equity team in 2008. Prior to joining Baird Capital, Yongshan worked in New York City as an Associate with EG Capital Group - a middle market growth equity and buy-out fund, conducting transactions in the consumer sector. Previously, Yongshan worked with IBM’s Sales & Distribution division, servicing financial services clients. Yongshan graduated cum laude from State University of New York at Buffalo with a degree in Electrical Engineering and received his M.B.A. from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. He also holds an M.S. degree from University of Maryland.
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Associate
Bonnie is an Associate with Baird Capital. Before joining Baird Capital, Bonnie worked as an Associate at Leon CVM Capital Management, which is a US$250mm private equity fund focusing on Greater China. Prior to that, she worked as an Analyst at China Vest- a merchant bank focusing on cross-border M&A and private placement advisory services. Bonnie earned a BA in Economics from East China University of Politics and Law. She also earned a Msc. in Finance and Accounting from London School of Economics and Political Science.
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Operating Partner
+852 2827 8822
Peter joined Baird Capital in 2003 as an operating partner working with portfolio companies to develop distribution and sourcing strategies in Asia. Peter oversees Baird's Asia Operations team. Peter served as President of Racing Champions Limited (“RCL”) from 1996 through 2003, the Hong Kong-based subsidiary of RC2 Corporation (NASDAQ: RCRC). Peter formed RCL's predecessor in 1989 to handle the overseas operating activities of RC2’s Asian manufacturing requirements. Prior to 1989, Peter founded and operated Deles International Ltd., a manufacturer and marketer of consumer products exported to the U.S., Japan and Europe.
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Chairman of Asia Advisory Board
+86 10 6479 5151
Hock Goh is an Operating Partner with Baird Capital. Prior to joining Baird Capital, he served as the President of Schlumberger Sema's Network & Infrastructure Solutions business, having global responsibility for Schlumberger's Network and Infrastructure services. During his 24-year career with Schlumberger, Hock also served as President of Schlumberger Asia Pacific, where he was responsible for the integration of the Sema businesses into the organization, as well as all of the technology and oilfield businesses of Schlumberger in China. Hock was responsible for $800 million in revenue and more than 2,000 employees spread across 17 countries. He also served as the President of Schlumberger Test & Transactions Asia Pacific and was responsible for localizing manufacturing of smart cards and terminals in China via several joint ventures. Prior to joining Schlumberger, Hock was an officer in the Singapore Armed Forces. Hock serves as an Independent Director of Thiss Technologies Pte Director of Xaloy Holdings and Chairman of NetGain Systems Pte He received his Mechanical Engineering degree from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
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Senior Advisor & Chairman
of Investment Committee
Bruce Allen is the former CEO of AIF Capital Ltd., a Hong-Kong based registered investment adviser that managed two private equity funds, the Asian Infrastructure Fund (AIF I) and Russell AIF Asia II (AIF II). AIF I was a US$780 million fund that made direct investments across Asia in the transportation, telecommunications, and power sectors. AIF II was a $100 million generalist private equity fund invested in a variety of businesses with assets in China, India, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. AIF Capital also managed over $200 million in co-investments in both funds. AIF Fund II had a similar investment profile to BCPA. As CEO of Fund II, Bruce raised, oversaw the deployment of and monitored the fund. Bruce also served on the Board of Directors of a number of AIF portfolio companies across Asia. He is currently active as a private direct investor. Prior to AIF, Mr. Allen held positions at Frank Russell Company (a U.S.-based investment firm), with First Boston Corporation (a Wall Street investment bank), and with Cummins Engine Company. Mr. Allen, a Chartered Financial Analyst, holds a M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business, as well as a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering, summa cum laude, both from the University of Illinois, U.S.A.
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Partner,
Portfolio Operations
312-609-4930
Rob Ospalik is a Partner with Baird Capital. He is responsible for Baird Capital's Portfolio Operations program. He joined Baird Capital in 1999 after two years in Baird’s Investment Banking Group. Rob previously served as a Certified Public Accountant at the Price Waterhouse LLP audit and business advisory services practice in St. Louis. He is a director of Pentagon Technologies Group, and graduated with a BS in Accounting from Washington University in St. Louis.
Rob also serves on the Board of Directors for the Old Town School of Folk Music.
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Vice President,Portfolio Operations
+86 21 6182 0980 ext. 116
Janet Ni joined Baird Capital's team in 2007. Prior to joining Baird Capital, Janet served in a senior management role in a leading digital video recording company, TGC Inc., where she was primarily responsible for the outsourcing and market entry of TGC products in Asia. Janet also worked for Motorola China covering Asian outsourcing activities to contract manufacturers in East China. Janet started her career and spent 6 years in a leading contract manufacturing company holding various operational functions and was involved in the establishment of the first facility in China for Solectron Corp. Janet is fluent in both Mandarin and English and earned a Masters Degree of Technology and Equipment from Northwestern University of China in Xi'an.
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Vice President,Portfolio Operations
+86 21 6182 0980
Ben Teoh joined Baird Capital in 2011. Prior to joining Baird Capital, Ben worked as CFO in a medical device company, Analogic Medical Equipment Co Ltd in Shanghai, where he had overall responsibility for the finance function of the company. Prior to Analogic Medical, Ben worked as Director of Finance in a start up mobile software company E28 Ltd, and with Energizer (US FMCG) and with Avebe (Dutch food manufacturer) in Greater China. Ben started his career by spending 4 years with KPMG Peat Marwick in both audit and tax. Ben earned CPA from CPA Australia and Public Accountant from Malaysia Institute of Accountants. He received his BA in Accounting from University of South Australia.
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Chief Operating Officer
312-609-4664
Scott is Chief Operating Officer for Baird Capital. Prior to joining Baird in 2005, Scott served as Chief Financial Officer for LaSalle Capital Group, a Chicago-based middle-market private equity firm. In addition, Scott has worked extensively as a service provider to private equity firms as a member of Ernst & Young's Transaction Advisory Services group. Scott's experience also includes commercial banking and audit. Scott received his MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
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Partner, Investor Relations
312-609-4677
Aaron is a Partner with Baird Capital, managing Baird Capital's relationships with current and prospective investors in the United States, Europe and Asia and overseeing its business development, communication, sales and marketing activities. Aaron is also involved in broader strategic and new product development initiatives. Aaron joined Baird Capital in 2008 and has thirteen years of private equity and entrepreneurial experience. He was previously a Principal at private equity fund-of-funds manager Muller & Monroe, where he was a member of the firm’s investment team and helped manage the firm’s investor relationships. Prior to Muller & Monroe, Aaron spent time with two venture capital firms and was Director of Marketing at a venture-backed software company. Aaron began his career as a James H. Dunn Fellow in the press office of former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
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Vice President,Investor Relations
312-609-5445
Nicole is a Vice President on the Investor Relations team at Baird Capital. Prior to joining Baird Capital in 2012, Nicole was a Vice President of Marketing/Investor Relations with 2100 Xenon, a Chicago based alternative investment firm, where she was responsible for the development and execution of the firm’s global institutional marketing strategies. Before 2100 Xenon, Nicole was a regional consultant in the Investment Management Division of Goldman Sachs, and also worked as a portfolio specialist for Calamos Investments, where she communicated the firm’s investment process and strategies to institutional clients. Nicole began her career at Baxter International as a financial analyst. Nicole received a BS in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
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