Les Baird

Les is the former Global Head of Bain’s Mergers & Acquisitions and Divestitures practice which he led from 2018-2025 and remains an active member of the practice. Les is also a leader in our Advanced Manufacturing & Services & Healthcare practices.

He brings more than 25 years of management consulting experience, primarily advising industrial clients on corporate and growth strategy, M&A strategy and execution, organizational design, and performance improvement.

In addition, he has deep expertise across the M&A lifecycle, with a focus on merger integration, change management, and results delivery. He has led numerous multibillion-dollar global integration programs and has extensive experience in due diligence and commercial valuation across industries, including industrial products, consumer products, retail, and telecommunications.

He has worked in Bain's Boston and Sydney offices. Prior to joining Bain, he worked at another global consulting firm, specializing in business process redesign in the context of merger integrations.

Les earned an MBA with honors from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in business economics from Wheaton College, where he graduated cum laude.