Houlihan Lokey to Launch in Asia

Houlihan Lokey has hired David Putnam to establish the firm's first Asian office in Hong Kong and lead the expansion of its regional operations through a combination of local hires and transferees from the investment bank's existing network.

Putnam, who will hold the titles of managing director and head of Asia-Pacific investment banking, is charged with developing both local and international advisory clients across the region, as well as develop new opportunities using the international financing resources available through the firm's partnership with Japan's ORIX Corporation.

Before joining Houlihan Lokey, Putnam was a senior member of the Mergers & Acquisitions group for Citigroup Global Markets in Hong Kong. He studied Chinese and economics at London University, and speaks, reads and writes Mandarin Chinese as well as some Bahasa Indonesia and Cantonese.