Lucy Chen Kruse Joins Mesirow Financial as Senior Vice President
Hire Will Bolster Firm's Global Business Initiative in China Financial Market

CHICAGO, August 5, 2010 — Mesirow Financial has announced that Lucy Chen Kruse has joined the firm as a senior vice president for the firm's China Financial Market Development initiative. In this role, Chen Kruse serves as an integral part of the firm's global business initiative, with a concentration in Investment Banking, Insurance and other financial market business development in the China marketplace.

Chen Kruse brings a wealth of knowledge of doing business in, and with, China, which will enable the firm to more effectively enter the third-largest and fastest-growing economy in the world. Her expertise can be applied across all of the firm's business lines, from Insurance to Investment Banking and Investment Management to Consulting. This new role within the firm will allow Chen Kruse to continue her strong history in this arena.

Jim Tyree, chairman and CEO, stated, "Lucy works closely with me and other senior management across multiple business lines, identifying opportunities and aligning key resources with Chinese businesses investing in the U.S. and globally." He added, "With her decades-long commitment to this initiative, Lucy is able to leverage strong cross-border relationships that she has been cultivating for many years."

"Mesirow Financial has the right combination of resources and products and, most importantly, the vision and commitment to global business necessary to advance my efforts," said Chen Kruse. "It's an exciting opportunity for me to present all aspects of financial services to the fast-growing China market," she added.

A pioneer in forging business relationships with Chinese corporations and government, prior to joining Mesirow Financial, Chen Kruse was vice president, head of China Business Development in the International Department of Fifth Third Bank, focusing on providing commercial banking services to Chinese business operations in the U.S. She began her career at First Chicago, building their China Marketing practice. Subsequently, she served as a commercial banker at Citibank, managing a portfolio of businesses from the Greater China Area.

Chen Kruse is a frequent speaker at major industry events, including the China Foreign Investment Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Commerce and Guangzhou Foreign Investment Seminar sponsored by the State of Illinois, Far East Bureau, among others. She received her bachelor of science degree from DePaul University and is an active member of The US-China Business Council and Detroit Chinese Business Association.

Mesirow Financial is a diversified financial services firm headquartered in Chicago. Founded in 1937, it is an independent, employee-owned firm with more than 1,200 employees in locations across the country and in London with capital of $297 million, revenues of $526 million and more than $40 billion in assets under management (unaudited). With expertise in Investment Management, Global Markets, Insurance Services and Consulting, Mesirow Financial strives to meet the financial needs of institutions, public sector entities, corporations and individuals. For more information about Mesirow Financial, visit its Web site at mesirowfinancial.com.

For more information, contact: Julie Liedtke, Mesirow Financial, 312.595.7902.

 

The Mesirow Financial name and logo are registered service marks of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc., © 2010, Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not necessarily complete and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Any opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. It should not be assumed that any recommendations incorporated herein will be profitable or will equal past performance. Nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy an interest in any Mesirow Financial investment vehicle(s).

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