Steven M. Cramer joined Houlihan Lokey as a managing director in the bank’s Technology, Media, & Telecom (TMT) Group overseeing the gaming sector. He will be based in Los Angeles.

Cramer joins from Imperial Capital, where he was a managing director covering the gaming, lodging and leisure and entertainment sectors. While there, he worked on a range of transactions across M&A, capital markets, and restructuring. Cramer also held investment banking roles at Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley and, over the course of his career, has advised numerous corporate and financial sponsor clients involved in the casino gaming, lodging and leisure and entertainment space.

“Given the prevalent convergence trends and synergy opportunities across the TMT sector, particularly with respect to convergence in gaming, digital technology, and content development, adding a banker with Steven’s breadth of experience is a very significant benefit for the Group and its clients. We’re delighted that he has joined the team and confident that our TMT clients will benefit substantially from his expertise,” said Roy Kabla, global co-head of the TMT Group.

“I’m excited to join a firm that successfully combines all the elements necessary to deliver superior outcomes for our clients: intellectual capital, strong local relationships, global reach, and a breadth of services that helps clients take advantage of every opportunity and meet every challenge. I look forward to continuing the growth and momentum in Houlihan Lokey’s TMT Group,” said Cramer.

Cramer’s hire follows the September appointment of Kabla as managing director and global co-head of the TMT Group and the addition of Vikram Pandit as a director in the Group. The TMT Group is now comprised of 15 officers.

“As we continue to expand our TMT Group, we seek genuine sector experts who combine decades of industry knowledge and relationships with a client-centric, solutions-oriented application of investment banking expertise,” said Rob Louv, global co-head of the Technology, Media & Telecom Group. “Steven is an excellent cultural fit in that respect and we have no doubt that he will continue his track record of success at Houlihan Lokey.”