Baird, an employee-owned, international financial services firm, has appointed Andrew Nicholson as managing director of its Global Healthcare Investment Banking business based in London.

Nicholson previously worked at KPMG where he founded the company’s healthcare M&A team. He has spent the past 14 years working in M&A leadership roles including UK head of healthcare M&A and UK head of M&A.

Nicholson has led a number of recent transactions including: the sale of Care Fertility to Silverfleet Capital, the sale of City & County to Graphite Capital, the sale of European Care to Varde and DE Shaw, and the sale of Healthcare Homes to Omega Healthcare Investors, among others.

Prior to KPMG, Nicholson held a corporate finance role at Rothschild. He was also corporate development director at Robinia, a Bridgepoint-backed company that cares for adults with learning disabilities, and he set-up and sold his own elderly care business.

Rob Andrews, co-head of Baird Global Healthcare Investment Banking, said: “We are thrilled that Andrew is joining our team. With his experience as both a healthcare advisor and operator, Andrew offers unique perspectives and advice to our clients. His deep knowledge of the industry and significant transaction experience with a broad group of healthcare names will both enhance and complement Baird’s existing coverage. His addition to the team and leadership in the UK and Europe will strengthen further our cross-border capabilities.”

Bill Suddath, co-head of Baird Global Healthcare Investment Banking, added: “Baird’s Global Healthcare practice continues to achieve great success and expanding our European and healthcare coverage remains a significant area of focus and investment for our business. We are excited to add Andrew to our incredible European team and continue on our current trajectory of upward momentum serving companies and investors in the global healthcare market.”

Nicholson said: “I am so pleased to join Baird, especially at a time of strong growth for the group’s healthcare practice. Despite the challenges that Covid-19 has presented worldwide, I look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to this highly respected team, as we work to provide outstanding results for our clients, both current and future.”

Baird’s global healthcare platform includes more than 35 investment bankers, who have completed 150 healthcare M&A and financing transactions since 2017; 19 equity research analysts covering nearly 150 healthcare stocks; and a dedicated equity sales and trading team that makes a market in approximately 600 healthcare stocks and has traded more than 650 million shares of those stocks in the past 12 months.