Madeline Daleiden's questions to Houlihan Lokey Inc (HLI) leadership • Q1 2026
Question
Madeline Daleiden, on behalf of Ken Worthington from JPMorgan Chase & Co., asked about the significant growth in managing director headcount relative to overall headcount over the last year, questioning if it was a deliberate strategic shift. She also asked about specific business or sector focuses for future hiring.
Answer
CEO Scott Adelson attributed the senior hiring to the firm's attractiveness as a platform for top talent, stating they are always looking for great people across all product lines and geographies. CFO J. Lindsey Alley added that the disparity in growth rates is likely happenstance rather than a structural design and should revert to historical norms over time.