Houlihan Lokey appoints John Guzzo as managing director in financial services

NEW YORK - Investment bank Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI), currently trading near its 52-week high with a market capitalization of $14.5 billion, announced Monday the appointment of John Guzzo as Managing Director in its Financial Services Group, based in New York. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains strong financial health with an overall score of "GREAT" and has consistently raised its dividend for 10 consecutive years.

Guzzo joins with more than 25 years of M&A and financial services experience and will strengthen the firm’s Mortgage Services practice. He previously served as Managing Director at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (KBW), a Stifel company, where he led the Mortgage Technology & PropTech investment banking practice.

Prior to KBW, Guzzo was a Managing Director at Berkery, Noyes & Co., LLC, where he founded and led the Mortgage Technology & PropTech Group.

Jeffrey Levine, Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Services Group, noted that Guzzo "brings deep industry expertise, strong client relationships, and a commitment to delivering superior outcomes for clients worldwide."

Guzzo expressed enthusiasm about joining the team, citing the firm’s "exceptional reputation for its strategic insight, execution excellence, and long-standing relationships across the financial services marketplace."

According to the company’s press release statement, Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Services Group was ranked as the No. 1 M&A advisor for all global financial services transactions by LSEG (formerly Refinitiv) in 2024.

Houlihan Lokey provides mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory services to corporations, institutions, and governments globally with offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region.

In other recent news, Houlihan Lokey Inc. reported impressive earnings for its first fiscal quarter of 2026. The company achieved an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.14, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.68 by 27.38%. Meanwhile, creditors of Altice International have selected Houlihan Lokey as their financial adviser for upcoming debt negotiations. Although the formal appointment is yet to be completed, the creditor group is already collaborating with law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher. This cooperation agreement has been extended through March, having been initially set to expire this month. These developments highlight significant financial and advisory activities involving Houlihan Lokey.

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