Scott Adelson
{{Short description|American businessman (born 1961)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Scott Adelson
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1961}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California
| other_names =
| occupation = Business executive
| years_active = 1987–present
| alma_mater = University of Southern California
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
| spouse = Ashley Adelson
| known_for =
| notable_works =
}}
Scott Adelson (born 1961) is an American business executive who has served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Houlihan Lokey since June 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/houlihan-lokey-ceo-scott-adelson-this-is-a-goldilocks-moment-for-us-a17df305|title=Houlihan Lokey CEO Scott Adelson: 'This is a Goldilocks moment for us'|first=Paul|last=Clarke|website=Financial News}} Prior to this role, he served as co-president and global co-head of corporate finance.{{Cite web |date=2016-09-09 |title=Houlihan Lokey's Adelson Gets $7.6 Million as 2013 Loan Forgiven |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-09/houlihan-lokey-s-adelson-gets-7-6-million-as-2013-loan-forgiven?embedded-checkout=true |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=bloomberg.com}}{{Cite news |last=Monks |first=Matthew |last2=Baker |first2=Liana |date=2021-12-06 |title=Houlihan's Adelson Talks About Making Its Biggest Acquisition Yet |url=http://bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-12-06/houlihan-s-adelson-talks-about-making-its-biggest-acquisition-yet?embedded-checkout=true |access-date=2025-05-16 |work=bloomberg.com}}
Early life and education
Scott Adelson was born in 1961 in Los Angeles, California.{{Cite web|url=https://sbmag.com/weliveinparadise/something-to-crow-about|title=Something to Crow About|website=Santa Barbara Magazine}} He earned a Bachelor of Science in business and entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California in 1984 and an MBA in finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 1987.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagobooth.edu/alumni/events/showevent?eventId=21668|title=Alumni Event Details | The University of Chicago Booth School of Business|website=The University of Chicago Booth School of Business}}
Career
Adelson joined Houlihan Lokey in 1987.{{Cite web |title=News - The banker - S. Adelson |url=https://houlihanstorageprod.blob.core.windows.net/uploadedfiles/Press/News/hl-news-thebanker-sadelson-jul-2017.pdf |access-date=2025-05-16}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebanker.com/content/bdf9bfaf-d3c5-5349-a796-b607438b1f06|title=Mid-cap focus brings Houlihan Lokey stability and success|website=The Banker}} He became a senior associate within three years and a year later appointed as a vice president in the corporate finance division. In 1993, he was given the role of senior vice president and in 1995 managing director. In 2000, he became the global co-head of corporate finance.
In 2006, Adelson was named senior managing director and joined the board of directors. He became co-president and global co-head of corporate finance in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/featured/houlihan-lokey-inc-purchases-advisory-firm-baylor/|title=Houlihan Lokey Acquires Advisory Firm Baylor Klein|first=Daniel|last=Green|date=July 12, 2021}}{{Cite web |date=2020-05-28 |title=Houlihan Lokey Is the Investment Bank Built for Hard Times |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-29/houlihan-lokey-is-the-investment-bank-built-for-hard-times?embedded-checkout=true |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=bloomberg.com}} During his tenure as co-president and global co-head of corporate finance, Adelson contributed to Houlihan Lokey's growth, including its expansion into international markets. Under his co-leadership, the firm pursued acquisitions, notably the 2021 acquisition of GCA Corp., which expanded Houlihan Lokey’s presence in Asia and Europe.{{Cite web|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/finance/houlihan-lokey-expands-asia-blockbuster-deal/|title=Houlihan Lokey Expands to Asia in Blockbuster Deal|first=Pat|last=Maio|date=November 8, 2021}}
In June 2024, Adelson was appointed as the CEO of Houlihan Lokey, succeeding Scott Beiser.{{Cite web|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/commentary/new-leader-for-houlihan-lokey/|title=New Leader for Houlihan Lokey|first=James|last=Brock|date=March 25, 2024}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-04 |title=Houlihan Lokey Names Scott Adelson CEO as Scott Beiser Steps Down |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-04/houlihan-lokey-names-scott-adelson-ceo-as-beiser-steps-down?embedded-checkout=true |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=bloomberg.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/companias/2024-03-05/houlihan-lokey-nombra-a-scott-adelson-como-su-nuevo-consejero-delegado.html|title=Houlihan Lokey nombra a Scott Adelson como su nuevo consejero delegado|first=CINCO|last=DÍAS|date=March 5, 2024|website=Cinco Días}}
Personal life
Scott Adelson is married to Ashley Adelson; the couple met in 2012 and married in 2019. In 2020, they moved from Los Angeles to Montecito, California, where they reside on a historic property and share interests in wine and gardening. Adelson co-owns Antica Terra, a winery located in Oregon's Willamette Valley known primarily for Pinot Noir, which he and two colleagues acquired in the mid-2000s.{{Cite web|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/marvelous-night-for-superheroes-of-la-business/|title=Marvelous Night for Superheroes of L.A. Business|date=April 2, 2006}}
Adelson's charitable activities are influenced in part by his family background. His mother, Renee Adelson Kass, previously worked as an early childhood educator, and together they have supported causes related to education and poverty alleviation.{{Cite web|url=https://harris.uchicago.edu/news-events/news/finding-purpose-fighting-poverty-mother-and-son-make-difference-through-giving|title=Finding Purpose, Fighting Poverty: A Mother and Son Make a Difference Through Giving|date=February 28, 2025|website=The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy}}
In 2016, Adelson founded the Adelson Foundation in collaboration with an initiative known as 7Sherpas. One notable project was a collaboration with the University of Chicago's Poverty Lab, where Adelson’s philanthropy funded research on homelessness and early childhood interventions in Chicago public schools.