Mesirow Financial Holdings Inc., an independent, employee-owned financial services firm, has appointed Natalie A. Brown as president following a unanimous vote by the firm’s board of directors. In her role as president, Brown will work closely with Richard S. Price, Mesirow’s Chairman and CEO on all facets of corporate strategy. She joined Mesirow in 2018, most recently serving as the firm’s chief financial officer and chief administrative officer.

“Natalie is a natural leader with deep financial services experience, and an ability to navigate through complex challenges and opportunities successfully. Her core values align with the firm’s, which makes her an ideal choice for this role” said Price. “As we are emerging from the pandemic, we see increased optimism in the communities we operate in and a sense of renewal among our clients. I look forward to partnering with Natalie on our corporate strategy and serving our clients through a diverse set of differentiated, personalized financial products and services.”

Over the past several years, Brown has advised the firm’s board of directors and businesses on financial, operational, and organizational strategy, playing a role in recent lift-in acquisitions, senior hires and technological initiatives. She has also acted as liaison between Mesirow business leaders and corporate services to develop strategic alignment with important firm initiatives.

“I am honored to serve as Mesirow’s President continuing to work closely with Richard and our exceptional business leaders,” said Brown. “Mesirow’s talented employees have an entrepreneurial spirit, a passion for serving clients, and a commitment to social good, and I am dedicated to providing the best career experiences for them. Together, I believe we will extend the firm’s decades of success in the financial services industry and create significant value for our clients.”

As President of Mesirow, Brown succeeds Dominick Mondi, who retired in February after 12 years of service in a series of executive roles. Jesse Keig, who has been with the firm since 2006, most recently as financial controller, assumes the role of chief financial officer, with responsibilities spanning the firm’s accounting operations, business accounting, financial reporting, tax, and financial planning and analysis.