Baird oversees delivery of retail, wealth-management and business services. Chicago-based Harris has made Michael Baird head of its community-banking operations in Indiana, a position who puts him in charge of the bank's 20 branches in the northwestern part of the state. He takes over from John Rudy, who was recently promoted to a leadership position in Harris' risk-management busines.

Other side

"We look to our regional president to ensure we are consistently providing exceptional service to our retail, business and wealth-management clients, while also serving as a leader within their community," says Frank Slocumb, head of Harris' retail-banking business south of I-55. "Mike's background, experience and dedication to his communities made him the perfect choice for this important role."

In the context of retail banking, "wealth management" can mean brokerage and insurance services as well as higher-end services provided through the Harris Private Bank and its associated multifamily office Harris my CFO. In his previous role Baird head of Harris retail banking in Indiana. He came to Harris as a result of its 2004 acquisition of Mercantile Bancorp, a 19-branch bank based in Hammond, Ind.

Harris is a subsidiary of Toronto-based BMO Financial Group. -FWR

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