Scott Smith, Managing Director

Role at Baird

Scott Smith is a Managing Director in Baird’s Global Financial Sponsors Group, managing the firm’s relationships with a number of leading private equity firms. View our recent transactions.

Professional Experience & Education

Prior to joining Baird in 2023, Scott was with Goldman, Sachs & Co. where he was a Managing Director and member of the firm’s Cross Markets Sponsor Coverage team, focusing specifically on middle market private equity coverage. He began his career as an M&A banker at Bowles, Hollowell, Conner & Co. in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he executed sellside M&A processes across numerous industry sectors and rose from Associate to Managing Director. Scott transitioned to covering financial sponsors when he opened the Charlotte office for Lazard in 2008. He has spent his entire career working with middle-market companies and private equity firms.

Scott received a bachelor’s degree from Williams College and an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.