Piper Jaffray CEO and leadership

Chad Abraham serves as the chief executive officer of Piper Jaffray and is a member of the firm's board of directors. Abraham joined the firm in 1991 as an investment banking analyst. He spent the next 13 years on the West Coast as a banker in the company's technology investment banking group. He was promoted to managing director and head of technology investment banking in 1999. In 2005, Abraham was promoted to head of capital markets and in 2010, he became the global co-head of investment banking and capital markets. Under the leadership of Abraham and co-head Scott LaRue, the firm's investment banking division grew revenues from approximately $150 million to more than $500 million. They established coverage in energy and financial services, expanded debt capital markets capabilities and added key offices and personnel. Abraham serves on the board of trustees of the Nature Conservancy’s Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota chapter and the board of trustees of The Blake School. He graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science.

Christine Esckilsen is the chief human capital officer at Piper Jaffray. She sits on the firm’s leadership team and oversees human capital, marketing and communications, meetings and events, community relations, travel and real estate. She focuses on strategic initiatives, including acquisitions, and works to further organizational effectiveness, employee development and the firm’s overall culture. Esckilsen also serves as the in-house employment lawyer. She is a member of the firm’s diversity and inclusion council. Esckilsen worked as in-house counsel for Piper Jaffray prior to the firm's spin-off from U.S. Bancorp in 2003. From 1995 to 2002, Esckilsen was in private practice at Littler Mendelson in California. Esckilsen has served on the board of directors of Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis since January of 2016. She is currently a chair of the governance committee. Additionally, she served on the board of directors for MAP for Nonprofits from 2010 to 2015 and chaired the board in 2015. Esckilsen received a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish from Michigan State University and a Juris doctorate from the University of Michigan. She is a member of the bar associations of the states of California and Minnesota.

Tim Carter is the chief financial officer of Piper Jaffray. In this role, he is responsible for managing the firm’s treasury, accounting, market and credit risk and the financial planning & analysis function. Carter joined the firm in 1995 and has held various finance positions including senior vice president of finance, controller, chief accounting officer and treasurer. During his time at Piper Jaffray, Carter has been a key participant in multiple strategic corporate development actions that have helped shape the firm. Prior to joining Piper Jaffray, Carter worked in public accounting at Deloitte. Carter graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is a licensed CPA. He serves on the board of College Possible Minnesota and was previously board chair.

Anncharlotte McCague is a Chief Compliance Officer at Piper Jaffray Private Capital Group and Chief Compliance Officer at Piper Jaffray Companies.

Chad Abraham serves as the chief executive officer of Piper Jaffray and is a member of the firm's board of directors. Abraham joined the firm in 1991 as an investment banking analyst. He spent the next 13 years on the West Coast as a banker in the company's technology investment banking group. He was promoted to managing director and head of technology investment banking in 1999. In 2005, Abraham was promoted to head of capital markets and in 2010, he became the global co-head of investment banking and capital markets. Under the leadership of Abraham and co-head Scott LaRue, the firm's investment banking division grew revenues from approximately $150 million to more than $500 million. They established coverage in energy and financial services, expanded debt capital markets capabilities and added key offices and personnel. Abraham serves on the board of trustees of the Nature Conservancy’s Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota chapter and the board of trustees of The Blake School. He graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science.

Christine Esckilsen is the chief human capital officer at Piper Jaffray. She sits on the firm’s leadership team and oversees human capital, marketing and communications, meetings and events, community relations, travel and real estate. She focuses on strategic initiatives, including acquisitions, and works to further organizational effectiveness, employee development and the firm’s overall culture. Esckilsen also serves as the in-house employment lawyer. She is a member of the firm’s diversity and inclusion council. Esckilsen worked as in-house counsel for Piper Jaffray prior to the firm's spin-off from U.S. Bancorp in 2003. From 1995 to 2002, Esckilsen was in private practice at Littler Mendelson in California. Esckilsen has served on the board of directors of Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis since January of 2016. She is currently a chair of the governance committee. Additionally, she served on the board of directors for MAP for Nonprofits from 2010 to 2015 and chaired the board in 2015. Esckilsen received a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish from Michigan State University and a Juris doctorate from the University of Michigan. She is a member of the bar associations of the states of California and Minnesota.

Tim Carter is the chief financial officer of Piper Jaffray. In this role, he is responsible for managing the firm’s treasury, accounting, market and credit risk and the financial planning & analysis function. Carter joined the firm in 1995 and has held various finance positions including senior vice president of finance, controller, chief accounting officer and treasurer. During his time at Piper Jaffray, Carter has been a key participant in multiple strategic corporate development actions that have helped shape the firm. Prior to joining Piper Jaffray, Carter worked in public accounting at Deloitte. Carter graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is a licensed CPA. He serves on the board of College Possible Minnesota and was previously board chair.