US financial services firm Robert W Baird & Co, which is based in Wisconsin, has appointed Karen Ogard as a senior vice president for its new private wealth management business in Denver, Colorado.

Ms Ogard was latterly a managing director and investment officer at Wells Fargo Advisors, and she is joined by two colleagues, client relationship associates Kim Church and Veronica Manary, in moving over to Baird Private Wealth Management.

The appointments form part of ongoing expansion plans in Colorado, Baird said in a statement; the firm has also established a wealth management operation in Boulder.

“Karen is a veteran when it comes to serving the financial needs of high net worth families and individuals. Karen and her team are a tremendous asset for Baird as we grow our wealth management business in Denver, build on our commitment to the region and enhance our ability to offer the most comprehensive financial advice and service to our clients,” said Steve Binder, senior vice president and private wealth management director of the Colorado Market. 

Baird has been hiring aggressively to support its country-wide expansion efforts, recruiting close to 100 financial advisors since the start of the year. The firm also plans to open new wealth management offices in San Francisco and Nevada in addition to those launched in Sacramento, California; Baltimore and Easton, Maryland; Minnetonka, Minnesota; and Philadephia.