William Blair, a boutique firm with expertise in investment banking, investment management and private wealth management, further expanded its investment banking team with the addition of William Kallop as a managing director in the firm’s consumer and retail group. Based in Chicago, Kallop will focus on clients across the consumer and retail sector, including consumer services, food and beverage and enthusiast brands.

“We are thrilled to welcome Will as a senior member of William Blair’s consumer and retail team,” Adam Filkin, head of consumer and retail investment banking at William Blair, said. “His deep experience and relationships across the consumer and retail space will complement our existing leading capabilities and our ability to continue to deliver best-in-class outcomes for our clients.”

Kallop’s investment banking background includes experience across the advisory landscape, including in mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, IPOs, joint ventures, raid defense, spin-offs, divestitures and other strategic financing solutions for both sell-side and buy-side transactions. Kallop’s relationship network connects clients from consumer products, consumer services, food and beverage companies with private equity, institutional and other strategic investors.

Kallop joined William Blair from Goldman Sachs, where he served as a managing director in the consumer/retail and cross markets groups within the firm’s investment banking division and as co-COO of the GS Veterans Network. Before joining Goldman Sachs, Kallop served as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps.

“I have long admired William Blair as a competitor and am honored to join this extraordinary team of bankers,” Kallop said. “As trusted advisors to company founders, CEOs and owners, this team is renowned for delivering the very best outcomes for clients. I look forward to applying my experience and relationships to contribute to this team’s continued leadership in the space and to help drive further growth of William Blair’s consumer and retail franchise.”