Investment bank Houlihan Lokey hired Brent Shepherd as a managing director in its capital markets group. Based in Chicago, Shepherd will co-lead the firm’s healthcare capital markets efforts alongside managing director Neha Shah.

Shepherd joined Houlihan Lokey following 24 years within Capital One’s healthcare banking and lending unit (formerly GE Capital Healthcare Financial Services prior to its sale to Capital One in 2015), where he most recently served as a managing director covering healthcare sponsor finance. In his role, Shepherd led the financing of acquisitions of large and middle-market companies and portfolio add-ons for financial sponsors. Prior to Capital One’s acquisition of GE Capital Healthcare Financial Services, he was a managing director for GE Capital Healthcare Financial Services for 10 years, leading investments for GE’s healthcare direct investment practice.

“Brent brings a valuable depth of experience, sector knowledge and dedication to client focus to our team, representing an excellent fit with Houlihan Lokey’s corporate culture,” Anthony Martino, managing director and global co-head of Houlihan Lokey’s capital markets group, said. “The demand for specialized healthcare capital markets expertise has never been greater, and adding Brent alongside Neha will enable our team to better service our healthcare clients’ expanding needs for capital and advice, as well as will further accelerate the capital markets team’s growth in the U.S.”

“Houlihan Lokey has one of the most experienced and active private capital markets teams in financial services,” Shepherd said. “I’m excited to partner with Neha and my colleagues around the world to assist our healthcare clients with their financing needs and further enhance the exceptional client service for which the firm is known.”