Ken Moelis
Kenneth D. Moelis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958 United States |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania (B.S., MBA) |
| Occupation(s) | Investment banker, businessman |
| Known for | Founder, chairman, and CEO of Moelis & Company |
Kenneth D. Moelis (born 1958) is an American investment banker and billionaire who established, leads as chairman, and serves as CEO of Moelis & Company, an independent investment banking firm with a global presence.
Early life and education
Born in 1958, Moelis is the son of Gaye (née Gross) and Herbert I. Moelis, who was president of Equity Leasing Corporation based in New York. His grandfather, Paul I. Gross, also held the position of president at the same company before retiring. Additionally, his father was involved in breeding thoroughbred racehorses at CandyLand Stables located in Middletown, Delaware. Moelis obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics followed by an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Career
Moelis launched his professional journey in 1981 at Drexel Burnham Lambert, where he advanced to managing director under the mentorship of Michael Milken in Los Angeles. After Drexel's downfall, he transitioned to Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ), taking charge of corporate finance investment banking and playing a key role in establishing DLJ as a dominant Los Angeles investment bank throughout the 1990s.
When DLJ was acquired by Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) in 2000, Moelis was appointed head of US investment banking but departed shortly thereafter for UBS (then UBS Warburg), bringing along a significant portion of his team. Within three months, he successfully recruited over 70 senior bankers to UBS.
At UBS, Moelis served as president of UBS Investment Bank, spearheading the growth of its US investment banking division. By 2006, UBS had secured a position among the top four firms worldwide based on fee revenues.
In 2007, Moelis founded Moelis & Company, assembling a leadership team that included former senior UBS bankers such as Navid Mahmoodzadegan, Jeff Raich, John Momtazee, Elizabeth Crain, and Warren Woo.
Other affiliations
Moelis holds both his undergraduate and MBA degrees from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, class of 1981, and currently participates on Wharton's board of overseers. He chairs the Tourette Association of America and is a member of the board of governors at Cedars Sinai Hospital. Additionally, he belongs to the Hillcrest Country Club. His influence was acknowledged by Bloomberg Markets magazine through inclusion in their 50 Most Influential list in 2011, 2014, and 2016.
Personal life
In 1983, Moelis wed Julie Lynn Taffet in a Jewish ceremony. His sister, Cindy S. Moelis, held the position of director for the Presidential Commission on White House Fellows and is married to Robert S. Rivkin, who served as General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Transportation during President Barack Obama’s administration. Moelis has provided financial backing to Yotta Savings, a fintech startup offering prize-linked savings accounts co-founded by his son Adam.