For Immediate Release
MILWAUKEE, January 5, 2011 – Baird Capital Partners (“BCP”), the U.S.-based buyout fund of Baird Private Equity, announced today that Mark Hodges has joined as an Operating Partner. Hodges will work with BCP to source, evaluate and drive value in business process outsourcing (BPO) and professional services portfolio company investments. Hodges will be based in Houston.
Mark Hodges joins BCP with more than 20 years of experience in the BPO industry. Currently, he is the Founder and CEO of Hodges Advisory, a firm that advises the founders of services companies on driving high growth and establishing liquidity. Previously, Hodges was co-founder and chairman of the board of EquaTerra, a global leader in outsourcing and shared services advisory services. Mark worked actively with a variety of EquaTerra international clients and was responsible for corporate development until EquaTerra’s acquisition by KPMG in February 2011. EquaTerra grew to over $100M in revenue with operations in 15 countries. Prior to EquaTerra, Hodges spent time at TPI, Exult Gartner Dataquest and G2 Research in a variety of financial and operating positions. Hodges graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor’s degree in political economies of industrial societies.
“Mark’s addition as an Operating Partner deepens our team’s business process outsourcing and professional services expertise, and will increase our capacity to pursue and drive value in quality opportunities,” said Randy Mehl, BCP Partner. “He is a proven veteran in the industry and we are thrilled to add a successful executive like Mark to our team.”
The addition of Hodges is the latest development in an active year for Baird Private Equity. The group has made 13 new investments, six of which were business services companies, and completed seven exits in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Since inception, Baird Private Equity has made 51 investments in business services companies.
About Baird Capital Partners
Baird Capital Partners, the U.S.-based buyout fund of Baird Private Equity, invests in lower middle-market companies in the business services, manufactured products and healthcare sectors. Established in 1989, Baird Capital Partners leverages its deep sector knowledge, experienced investment team and extensive operating resources to drive value in its portfolio companies. Baird Capital Partners is supported by operating resources in China (Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai) and India (Bangalore) focused on facilitating and executing Asia sourcing, manufacturing and distribution strategies for Baird Capital Partners’ portfolio companies. Baird Private Equity, the global private equity group of Robert W. Baird & Co. (Baird), makes venture capital, growth equity and buyout investments in smaller, high potential companies in the United States through Baird Venture Partners and Baird Capital Partners, in China through Baird Capital Partners Asia, and in Europe through Baird Capital Partners Europe. Baird Private Equity has a global team of investment and operations professionals across the United States, Europe and Asia, including a team of operating professionals in Asia. Baird Private Equity and its affiliates have raised and managed over $2.8 billion in capital and invested in more than 250 companies since the 1980s. For more information, please visit www.bairdcapitalpartners.com.
For more information, contact:
Angela Pittman Taylor
Baird Public Relations
414-298-1902
