Houlihan Lokey announced that J. Andrew Koecher has joined the firm as a Managing Director and Head of the Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) practice. Koecher is based in Dallas and will be responsible for leading the continued build-out of the Transaction Advisory Services practice.
Koecher has over 25 years of transaction experience advising clients in the energy, industrials, consumer, media, technology, and food sectors. He has provided buyside and sellside accounting, financial and tax diligence, integration, divestiture, and restructuring services to leading financial and corporate clients. As a partner at KPMG, Koecher led the early transition to industries-based transaction advisory and held a number of other senior roles at that firm, including National Service Leader for Transaction Services, Global Co-Leader for Accounting & Advisory Services, U.S. Restructuring Leader and U.S. Sector Leader for Energy, Transactions, and Restructuring.
Prior to KPMG, Koecher also worked at PwC and Arthur Andersen & Co. Most recently, he served as a partner with Highlander Partners, LP, a private investment firm, where he supported middle-market leverage buyouts in the manufacturing, chemicals, consumer products, and food sectors.
“Drew brings a breadth of experience as an advisor, business leader, and principal investor to our team that reinforces our commitment to our clients and the marketplace,” said Jack Berka, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Financial Advisory Services. “As a successful client service partner and proven practice leader in the Big Four, Drew has helped build and lead national practices in M&A, accounting advisory, and restructuring, serving clients in nearly every industry segment. His expertise and relationships will accelerate our client service capability and market reach as we address the needs of our growing Transaction Advisory and Financial Advisory businesses.”
“It’s a privilege to join such a great team and firm with the outstanding reputation and transaction capabilities of Houlihan Lokey,” said Koecher. “Having experienced the significant competition for deals from both sides of the table as an investor and advisor, it’s clear that clients are increasingly requiring more transparent, responsive, and value-added deal support. By leveraging Houlihan Lokey’s industry depth and deal expertise across corporate finance, restructuring, and valuation, we will continue to efficiently deliver clients defensible, industry-relevant market views with analytical rigor that is unique in transaction advisory.”
Koecher holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Texas A&M University and a Master of Management from the J.L. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has contributed various editorials, research, and bylined articles to a range of financial and business publications. He has also presented as a speaker and panelist at conferences and universities around the country.
The firm is also pleased to announce that C. Travis Pittman, currently a Managing Director responsible for overseeing the firm’s Due Diligence Services practice, has been appointed Markets Leader for Transaction Advisory Services. Pittman will be responsible for leading service innovation and client development for TAS, as well as coordinating cross-border deals across Houlihan Lokey’s global network of transaction service professionals.
“Travis’ relentless focus on our clients has been instrumental to the continued growth of the TAS practice,” said Berka. “His market knowledge and ability to integrate our industry-based corporate finance, strategy, and valuation capabilities with buyside and sellside diligence has been a key differentiator in helping our client’s unlock and realize value. We look forward to his continued leadership as we expand our transaction capabilities and footprint.”
Houlihan Lokey’s Transaction Advisory Services practice assists buyers, sellers, and lenders to maximize value and minimize risk during the transaction process and throughout the deal continuum. Unencumbered by many of the restrictions of a CPA firm, and employing a tailored scope based on clients’ specific needs, the firm’s comprehensive financial and tax due diligence services combine technical expertise with industry-specific knowledge via access to the Firm’s dedicated investment banking industry groups, resulting in an exceptional level of expertise on each engagement.