Robert W. Baird & Co. has named Steven W. Stroker regional director. Stroker joins Baird from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, where he most recently served as complex director.
Based from Baird’s Chicago office, Stroker will serve as a regional director, overseeing Baird’s wealth management offices in the Central Region, which includes Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and most of Illinois. At Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Stroker oversaw more than 220 financial advisors in 10 branch offices managing $17 billion in client assets. His career in the financial service industry spans nearly 30 years, all with Smith Barney where he started as a financial consultant in 1983 and went on to hold a variety of management roles including Regional Director of Smith Barney’s North Central region.
“We are very pleased to welcome Steve to Baird,” said Michael J. Schroeder, president of Baird’s Private Wealth Management group. “His significant industry experience and high integrity will make him an excellent addition to our Private Wealth Management leadership team, and an asset to the branch managers and financial advisors whom he will support.”
The firm also announced several other enhancements to its Private Wealth Management leadership team – all designed to support the continued growth of the business.
They include:
- John Mabee, managing director, has been named vice chairman of private wealth management, a role in which he will focus on recruiting and retaining the best advisors in the industry, as well as identifying new growth opportunities for the business.
- Matthew S. Curley, managing director, has been named national sales director, chief operating officer, a role in which he will ensure financial advisors have the tools, training and support they need to grow their business.
- William (Bill) T. Johnson, senior vice president, has been promoted to regional director. Johnson will oversee the Eastern Region, which includes offices in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia.
- Kimberly Thekan has been promoted to senior vice president, talent acquisition and integration, a role in which she will help lead the overall strategy for sourcing, recruitment and integration of talent.
“Baird Private Wealth Management has experienced tremendous growth over the past three years,” Schroeder said. “We have added nearly 250 new advisors and branch managers since the beginning of 2008, opened 18 new branch locations, and now manage more than $66 billion in client assets. The addition of Steve Stroker and promotion of a number of our talented senior leaders will put us in the best position to support future growth, while providing the highest quality support to branch managers and financial advisors in all of our markets. “
