Baird Global Investment Banking, an international financial services firm, has promoted Maria Watts to co-head of global consumer investment banking and a member of the unit’s senior leadership team.
Watts will partner with Brian McDonagh, Baird’s co-head of global investment banking, while continuing to manage her existing financial sponsor client relationships and support Baird’s senior consumer bankers in growing their franchises. She joined Baird in 2009 as an associate on Baird’s global consumer investment banking team. During her tenure with the global consumer team, Watts played a role in advising many consumer and retail brands. In 2018, Watts joined Baird’s global financial sponsors group, providing her consumer sector experience to Baird’s private equity clients. In 2020, she was named to Mergers & Acquisitions‘ list of 2020 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A.
“Maria is the right leader at the right time for this role, and we are so proud of her growth at Baird,” says McDonagh. “I’m excited to work in close partnership with her to create a strong culture of collective leadership amongst the team and chart the course for continued success in this critical industry franchise for Baird.”