FTI Consulting Adds Cybersecurity Veteran Jason Smolanoff and Two Strategic-Communications Directors
FTI Consulting has appointed cybersecurity veteran Jason Smolanoff as Senior Managing Director in its Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment, leveraging his 25 years of experience leading Kroll’s Cyber Risk practice. The firm also hired Dan Scorpio and Heather Wilson as Senior Managing Directors in Strategic Communications to expand its M&A transactions and issues management capabilities.
1. Diversified Consulting Model and Financial Strength Support Retention
FTI Consulting’s broad service mix—spanning forensic and litigation consulting, strategic communications and transaction advisory—drove share performance above industry peers in 2025. The firm generated $3.70 billion in revenues in fiscal 2024 and maintained leverage below 1.5x net debt to EBITDA as of September 30, 2025, providing ample liquidity for operations and strategic investments. A share repurchase program authorized in late 2024 has returned over $150 million to shareholders to date, underpinning earnings growth projections of mid‐single digits in 2026 and enhancing per-share metrics without increasing leverage materially.
2. Appointment of Cybersecurity Expert Enhances Forensic Capabilities
On January 13, 2026, FTI Consulting named Jason Smolanoff as Senior Managing Director in its Cybersecurity practice within the Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment. Smolanoff brings more than 25 years of experience—including leadership of Kroll’s Cyber Risk practice and a decade as an FBI Supervisory Special Agent overseeing national-security cyber investigations. He will spearhead expansion of incident response, digital forensics and strategic risk advisory services, reinforcing FTI’s ability to capture growing demand from corporate and government clients in a threat environment characterized by escalating complexity and regulatory scrutiny.
3. Transaction Communications Team Bolstered by Senior Hires
On January 12, 2026, FTI Consulting expanded its Strategic Communications segment with two Senior Managing Director appointments: Dan Scorpio in Chicago and Heather Wilson in Los Angeles. Scorpio’s decade of M&A and reputation advisory for Fortune 500 and private equity clients—including counsel on Medline’s 2025 IPO—strengthens FTI’s capacity to manage stakeholder engagement through deal cycles. Wilson’s expertise in crisis and investor communications for IBM, HP and private equity funds enhances the firm’s West Coast footprint. Together, they complement FTI’s integrated offering that aligns public affairs, investor relations and media strategy to mitigate risks and drive transaction value realization.