Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated issued the following announcement on Aug. 6.

Employee-owned international financial services firm Baird has announced that Laura Thurow has been promoted to Director of Wealth Solutions and Operations, and will lead the combined Wealth Solutions and Operations groups for Baird’s Private Wealth Management business. In her new role, Thurow also serves as a member of Baird’s Executive Committee.

Thurow is succeeding Russell Schwei, Chief Operations Officer and a member of Baird’s Executive Committee, who is planning to retire at the end of 2019 after almost 35 years at the firm. For the remainder of Schwei’s tenure at Baird, he will serve as a Vice Chairman and will pursue a number of firm-level initiatives while supporting the transition.

“One of Baird’s great strengths is our ability to retain and develop great talent,” said Steve Booth, Baird President & CEO. “Russ and Laura serve as great examples of how impactful that can be for Baird’s overall success as well as the success of our clients. Laura is one of three members of our Executive Committee who joined the firm as interns and her deep knowledge of our business, relationships across Baird, and leadership skills made her an ideal fit for this new role.”

Thurow joined Baird in 1999 as an intern in Baird’s Institutional Equities and Research business. From 2000 to 2005, she served as an Equity Research Analyst before joining the Wealth Solutions Group for Baird’s Private Wealth Management business. Thurow co-led the Wealth Solutions Group for several years before assuming sole leadership in 2016. In her new role, she is responsible for the people, platforms and back office services that support Baird’s more than 850 financial advisors in all aspects of their wealth management practices. Baird’s Private Wealth Management business serves clients through 94 locations in 30 states and has client assets of more than $135 billion.

Thurow holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and received her bachelor’s degree in economics from Trinity College. She has earned the CFA charter and is a member of the CFA Society of Milwaukee.

Schwei joined Baird in 1984 after working for Arthur Andersen. In addition to serving as Baird’s Chief Operations Officer, Schwei also served as Baird’s Chief Financial Officer in 1999 and Chief Information Officer from 2005 through 2009. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting at Marquette University and attended the Securities Industry Institute at the Wharton School of Business.

“Under Russ and Laura’s leadership, Baird’s Operations and Wealth Solutions groups have contributed tremendously to the ongoing success of our business,” said Mike Schroeder, President of Baird Private Wealth Management. “We are confident that this new model will further optimize the cohesive and seamless delivery of our wealth solutions and back office support as we continue to grow our business and provide the best service to our clients.”

Original source: http://www.rwbaird.com/news/Baird-Names-Thurow-Director-Wealth-Solutions-and-Operations