Jonathan Kirkland, former chief financial officer at intelligence collection and analysis services provider Illuminate, has joined Baird’s Global Technology and Services practice as a director on the financial services company’s government and defense team.
He will bring his industry experience to the team that provides strategic financial advice to private equity, founder-owner and corporate clients across defense, government services and state and local government sectors, Baird said Thursday.
Prior to Illuminate, Kirkland served as senior director of strategic investments and partnerships at SAP’s (NYSE: SAP) National Security Services business. He spent a decade as a defense industry investment banker, including six years as a member of the aerospace, defense and government team at Houlihan Lokey (NYSE: HLI).
Baird said its government and defense team has closed 23 transactions valued at $7.7 billion since January 2020.
