WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer
- Chief Human Resources Officer ( CHRO )
Amber Kennelly is the chief human resources officer (CHRO) for William Blair. Amber leads our human resources team globally. She is accountable for people-centric and business-oriented human resources strategy development, programs, and processes across the firm, including our diversity and equity programs.
Before joining William Blair, Amber served as CHRO for HUB International, an insurance brokerage company headquartered in Chicago, with more than 15,000 employees and 500 offices. She drove all core human resources strategies, programs, and processes.
Previously, Amber delivered impactful strategies and programs at Allstate Insurance Company for 12 years before joining HUB. In her last role at Allstate, she was the vice president of total compensation and an officer of the company. In a previous role with Allstate, Amber served as vice president of human resources for Esurance, an independently operated subsidiary located in San Francisco. She also led the executive compensation, executive development, leadership development, and executive talent acquisition functions for the company. Amber's earlier career included eight years at two leading retained executive search firms, and positions at Deloitte & Touche as an audit professional and Jones Lang LaSalle as an assistant controller.
Amber serves on the board of CareerSpring. She holds an M.B.A. from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a Bachelor of Science with honors in accountancy from the University of Illinois. Amber has also earned designations as a CPA and Certified Compensation Professional. She lives in the Chicagoland area with her husband, two sons, and daughter.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chairman of the Board of College Possible
- Financial Industry Leader
Beth Satterfield is a financial industry leader with over 30 years of banking, private equity, and investment management experience. She joined William Blair in 2015 as managing director and head of market development in the Investment Banking group. Before joining William Blair, she was the chief operating officer of Aurora Investment Management, LLC, an investment management firm focused on hedge funds. Before Aurora, Beth was at the private equity firm Glencoe Capital for 12 years. At Glencoe Capital, she was instrumental in the firm's growth and served on its investment committees as managing director, chief operating officer, and chief financial officer. Earlier in her career, she was a leveraged finance banker with Bank of America and a commercial banker with JP Morgan Chase.
Beth serves as the chairman of the board of College Possible, a non-profit AmeriCorps organization making college admission and success possible for low-income students in the United States through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. In addition, she is a member of the Cancer Wellness Center Annual Benefit Host Committee, a Chicago Booth School of Business mentor, and a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Beth also serves on the host committee for the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, an organization committed to preserving the legacy of the Holocaust through remembrance and combating hate. Her professional affiliations include 100 Women in Finance (100WF), Women's Association of Venture and Equity, Chicago Financial Women, Women Investment Professionals, and Chicago Women in Philanthropy.
Beth received her M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a B.S. in finance from the University of Illinois. She lives in Chicago, Illinois with her husband and three children.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Head
- President
Brent was elected CEO in January of 2022, having previously been named president in 2021. Before becoming president, he was the global head of Investment Banking for William Blair, leading a business that comprises over 700 bankers on four continents serving clients in M&A advisory and growth financing assignments. Brent also serves on William Blair's executive committee, extended leadership group, pride alliance, and equity commitment committee, and the William Blair International, Ltd board.
Since joining William Blair in 1997, Brent has led the firm's successful growth and reputation surge in the global investment banking marketplace by delivering world class service and outcomes for clients across more than 30 countries. Under his leadership, the firm has opened offices around the world and completed a minority investment and strategic partnership with the pan-Asian corporate advisory firm, BDA Partners. Brent also helped William Blair establish a strategic alliance with Israel's Poalim Capital Markets and Australia's Allier Capital.
Brent became head of the firm's European and Asian banking group in 2000. He was based in London until 2009 when he returned to the United States to become global head of investment banking. Before joining William Blair, Brent worked for Price Waterhouse as a certified public accountant (CPA), Andersen Consulting, and U.S. Congressman Michael Oxley. Brent earned a B.S. in business administration from Miami University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Managing Director, Head of Private Capital Markets
Brian Friedman is a managing director for William Blair based in the firm's Chicago office. He originally joined William Blair's investment banking team in 2020. Before joining William Blair, he worked for Paragon Biosciences, First Analysis Securities Corporation, National Securities Corporation, Robotic Ventures (a subsidiary of National Securities), and Guggenheim Partners/Liberty Hampshire.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Managing Director, Head of European Banking
Dr. Anu Sharma, partner, is the head of European investment banking for William Blair. Based in the firm's London office, he leads a 150-person investment banking team across five European office locations. He also serves on William Blair's executive committee, extended leadership group, community impact steering committee, and ESG working group.
Anu originally joined William Blair's investment banking team in London in 2004, where he focused on serving European and Asian investment banking clients. From 2009 to 2019, Anu was based in San Francisco where he built the firm's U.S. west coast footprint and was a senior member of the financial sponsors group and head of the San Francisco office. Before joining William Blair, he was a medical doctor with leading university teaching hospitals in the United Kingdom.
Anu earned his M.A. (hons.) and M.B. Chir.B. (medicine) degrees with distinction from Clare College, the University of Cambridge. In addition to holding FINRA and FCA qualifications, he also holds the CFA Institute's Certificate in ESG Investing.
Anu is engaged with a number of civic and community organizations, both within Europe and the San Francisco Bay area, including serving on the board of the Broadgate Community Fund, the National Council of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, active engagement with GreenLight Fund Bay Area, and member of the Master's Circle, Clare College.
Anu lives in London with his wife and three children.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Global Head of Workplace and Real Estate Management
Erin Murray Butler, partner, is the global head of Workplace and Real Estate Management (WREM) at William Blair. Since 2008, she has managed the global real estate, facilities, IT support, security, travel, and office services for the firm worldwide. She also directs the business continuity management program for the firm. During her tenure, she has overseen the firm's expansion to new offices in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia.
She led the development of the firm's headquarters in the William Blair Building at 150 North Riverside in Chicago. During the five-year project, Erin's role included launching a building search for a new site, managing complex lease negotiations, and creating a workplace strategy initiative, and engaging business leaders across the firm to plan for continued growth. She has led real estate expansions in Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Frankfurt, and New York.
Most recently she completed the relocation and expansion of the London office at 22 Bishopsgate. The project took into consideration the evolving needs of a post-pandemic world, incorporating features such as advanced acoustics, wellness amenities, collaborative spaces, and enhanced technologies. This initiative reflects a forward-thinking approach to office design, acknowledging the changing dynamics of work in a post-pandemic context and prioritizing elements that contribute to a positive and productive work environment.
Erin serves on the firm's risk, business continuity, partner engagement, and community impact steering committees. She is also a member of the board of trustees at the Kohl Children's Museum.
Prior to joining William Blair, Erin held a variety of positions with Marsh McLennan Companies, Inc. As the senior vice president of corporate real estate, she managed global expansion and relocation for the firm in North and South America. Prior to that, she served as the director of administration for the Next Door Foundation in Milwaukee, WI where she led the design and development of the organization's first community center.
Erin holds a B.S. in political science and international studies from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. She resides in Highland Park, IL, with her husband and son.
Job Titles:
- Chief Technology Officer
- Partner
Jim Connors, partner, is chief technology officer of William Blair & Company. Jim joined William Blair in 1999 and has responsibility for all technology services across the firm. He is a member of the extended leadership group and serves on the risk and business continuity committees. The technology group is focused on building digital, cloud, and analytical capabilities to drive William Blair's business objectives.
Before joining William Blair and Company, he was with John Nuveen & Company for six years as vice president of information services and was the senior officer responsible for all technology services. Prior to that he was a consultant with McKinsey & Company focused on strategy, operations, and systems consulting within the financial services industry. Jim received a B.A. from Colgate University and an M.B.A. from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner, National Sales Director, Private Wealth Management
Ken Langston, partner, is national sales director for William Blair's Private Wealth Management. He is responsible for the growth, development, recruitment, and supervision of the private wealth teams that serve the investment needs of high-net-worth families.
Ken started his career in the wealth management industry in 1993 as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch. In 2000, he joined Smith Barney as a financial advisor and continued in that role through the merger with Morgan Stanley. In 2007, he transitioned to management and managed branches in Illinois, Indiana, and Washington, D.C. during his tenure with Morgan Stanley. He most recently served as the executive director of the Washington, D.C. - K Street location.
Ken is a 1993 graduate of Butler University. He is active in coaching youth sports. He lives in Wilmette, Illinois, with his wife and four children.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Global Head of Investment Banking
Matt Zimmer is the global head of Investment Banking for William Blair, leading a business that has 750 employees across the United States and Europe. The team serves clients in both merger-and-acquisition advisory and growth financing assignments.
Before being named head of Investment Banking in 2021, Matt led supply chain, commercial services & technologies ("SCCS") investment banking at William Blair. Prior to leading the SCCS team, from 2016 to 2021, he was the head of the services & industrials teams at William Blair, leading multiple sector teams across the U.S. and Europe. From 2011 to 2016, Matt was based in the London office of William Blair where he advised clients across multiple sectors and geographies, and was a key contributor to the rapid growth of the firm's international presence over that period. Prior to 2011, he was a member of the M&A team in the Chicago office for five years.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Managing Director, Head of Leveraged Finance
Michael Ward is a managing director for William Blair based in the firm's Chicago office. He originally joined William Blair's investment banking team in 1997. Before joining William Blair, he worked for First Chicago Corp.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Board Member to the Grant Park Music
- Global Head of Brand Marketing and Communications
Michaelle Burstin is a partner and the global head of Brand, Marketing and Communications for William Blair. She is also a member of the extended leadership group. In 2023, Michaelle led the firm through an overhaul and launch of a new firm intranet. This updated platform offers employees globally a personalized, William Blair branded experience enabling a matrix flow of information to allow for quick access to relevant content with the goal to increase engagement.
Michaelle brings decades of experience in branding, strategic marketing, and communications to her role. Since joining William Blair, Michaelle has continued to build a strategic central function by launching new marketing departments, upgrading the operations, digital, social, and technology infrastructure, and managing the team's expanded responsibilities. Previously, she co-chaired the mission vision and values working group, and was a member of the risk committee, and the global inclusion council.
Before joining William Blair, she held multiple senior leadership positions. She was previously the head of marketing at MSCI, responsible for developing and executing marketing and communication strategies for all global business lines. Michaelle previously spent 10 years at Credit Suisse in various leadership roles in marketing, branding, and communications at both the corporate level and in the investment bank. She was also a member of the fixed-income management committee and the operating committee. Michaelle was a managing director at Burson-Marsteller and Hill and Knowlton, two of the world's largest public relations and communications firms. There she developed strategic marketing plans for their largest clients and had responsibility for media relations, technology, crisis communications, and corporate communications.
Earlier in her career, Michaelle worked as a political appointee for the Clinton administration as the director of Private and Public Sector Liaison with the United States Trade Representative in Washington D.C. and held a top-level security clearance. She was also the head of the media group at the Financial Relations Board and a producer and assignment editor at Fox news in California where she was nominated for a television Emmy.
Michaelle is a board member to the Grant Park Music festival in Chicago. She has a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.A. from the American University, where she graduated with Phi Kappa Phi honors.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Director of Research and Head of the U.S. Growth and Core Equity Strategies
Patrick Quinn, CFA, partner, is the director of research and head of the U.S. growth and core equity team for William Blair Investment Management. He is also a member of Investment Management's leadership team, as well as the firm's extended leadership group and executive committee.
Before joining William Blair in 2004, Patrick was an institutional equity trader with Strong Capital Management, where he began his career in the firm's leadership training program. Patrick is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society Chicago. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Golden Apple Foundation and on the Chicago Advisory Board for Good Sports.
Patrick received a B.S. in accounting and finance from Indiana University and an M.B.A. with honors from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Managing Director, Global Head of Technology Investment Banking
Pete Dalrymple, partner, is a managing director and global head of technology investment banking at William Blair. In addition, he leads the firm's Boston office.
Before joining William Blair in 2011, Pete worked in the technology investment banking group at Canaccord Genuity (formerly Adams Harkness) and also served as the Central and Southeast European country manager for the U.S. Trade & Development Agency. He also spent time as an associate with Pelion Venture Partners.
Pete is actively involved with Crossroads for Kids, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering at-risk youth, and is involved with several other charitable and nonprofit organizations around the Boston area.
Pete earned a B.S. from Bates College and an M.B.A. from Northeastern University. He lives in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with his wife and son.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Head of North America Distribution
Robert Duwa, CFA, partner, is head of North America distribution at William Blair Investment Management. He is also a member of Investment Management's leadership team, as well as the firm's extended leadership group and executive committee. Previously at William Blair, Bob was head of North America client service, a global equity portfolio specialist, and a senior client relationship manager.
Before joining William Blair in 2010, Bob was a senior consultant and practice leader with DeMarche Associates for 11 years. In this role, he was responsible for the strategic investment direction for institutional clients, and was president and founder of Discretionary Management Services, a registered investment advisor providing OCIO services. Before joining DeMarche, Bob worked in institutional investment management for Boatmen's Trust Company. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago.
Bob received a B.A. in finance from Loras College.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Head of Private Wealth Management
Ryan J. DeVore, partner, is a member of the firm's executive committee and the head of Private Wealth Management, which serves high-net-worth individuals, families, entrepreneurs, business owners, foundations, and endowments by providing thoughtful and sophisticated wealth management solutions. He leads a business of more than 120 wealth advisors and $65.6 billion in assets 1. In 2015, he established the firm's wealth management footprint in the Boston market, and since then has further expanded PWM into Atlanta, Baltimore, Beverly Hills, Denver, New York City, the Philadelphia area, San Francisco, and Stamford.
Ryan serves on William Blair's executive committee, equity underwriting commitment committee, community impact board, and global inclusion council.
Ryan has had extensive experience in financial advisory and business leadership roles. He joined William Blair after spending 16 years with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and its predecessor firms, where he served as the executive director and manager of the northern Colorado complex. In addition, Ryan managed branches in Michigan, Colorado, and Illinois during his tenure with Morgan Stanley, and worked to make each market a client experience leader and financial performer.
Ryan has been an entrepreneur and business owner, serving as an executive and owner of two companies. He is a regional trustee of the Naval War College Foundation, an executive committee member of the Merit School of Music, a member of YPO Chicago-Windy City Chapter, a member of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Wilmette, and actively involved with other local charities.
Ryan earned a B.B.A. from Eastern Michigan University and lives in Wilmette with his wife and three children.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations and Risk Management for Private Wealth Management
- Partner, Operations and Risk Management
Scott Krzeminski, partner, is director of operations and risk management for Private Wealth Management at William Blair, where thoughtful and sophisticated wealth management solutions are provided to high-net-worth individuals, families, entrepreneurs, business owners, foundations, and endowments. His focus is on developing world class products, services, and technologies for the firm's wealth advisors and their clients. He was also instrumental in expanding the firm's wealth management service beyond the Chicago headquarters into Baltimore, Boston, Atlanta, New York City, and San Francisco. Scott's 14 years at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney included extensive experience in strategic operational and risk management roles.
Scott is active in supporting both Lurie Children's Hospital and the Oasis for Orphans organization.
Scott McLaughlin, partner and head of equities at William Blair, leads a business with over 200 teammates in six offices in North America and Europe responsible for institutional sales, trading, and research. Based in New York City, he joined William Blair in January 2022 and brought over 25 years of experience. Before joining William Blair, he spent 18 years heading equities teams at Truist Securities, Lazard Capital Markets, and WR Hambrecht.
Scott earned his M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and his undergraduate degree in finance from Syracuse University. Scott resides in Darien, Connecticut, with his wife and two children.
Job Titles:
- Global Head of William Blair Investment Management
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner, Private Wealth Management Administration
Teresa Devereux, partner, heads administration for William Blair's Private Wealth Management. She is responsible for the supervision of the associate employees who support the wealth advisors with client service, trading, and operations. Ms. Devereux assists with the administrative management of the PWM wealth advisors, including practice management and team development, human resources, administration, organization of team events, and assisting with risk management surveillance. Before joining William Blair, she was with Barclays for two years and with Morgan Stanley/Smith Barney for 30 years working with branch operations management, regional management, and corporate administration.
Job Titles:
- Partner, Director of WB Consulting Services
Tyler Glover works closely with advisors and clients in portfolio design and implementation, investment policy, asset allocation, and investment solutions across traditional and alternative asset classes. As head of the Consulting Services group at William Blair, he and his team are dedicated to serving private wealth clients by upholding a high standard of care in investment guidance. Tyler joined William Blair Private Wealth Management in 2014 and previously held retail and institutional distribution and consulting roles at Calamos Asset Management. Tyler is a CFA charterholder and Chicago CFA Society member. Tyler serves on William Blair's Retirement Plan Investment Committee. He is also treasurer for Ronald McDonald House of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana and serves on the organization's board of directors and finance committee. Tyler received his B.A. and M.B.A. from North Central College.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance for Private Wealth Management
Will Gatch is the director of finance for Private Wealth Management at William Blair. In this role, Will is responsible for managing the group's profit and loss statement, and oversees PWM's financial planning, which includes budgeting, short- and long-term forecasting, resource planning, vendor management, compensation, new business modeling, and data analytics to drive efficiencies across the group and its advisory teams. Additionally, PWM's broader real estate strategy falls under his purview, and he has coordinated PWM's expansion outside of the Chicago market. Before joining William Blair, he was a financial consultant with Accenture.