FTI Consulting hires Jason Smolanoff plus two communications experts to boost cyber and M&A services
FTI Consulting has appointed Jason Smolanoff as Senior Managing Director in its Cybersecurity practice, leveraging his 25 years of risk advisory experience across incident response and investigations. The firm named Dan Scorpio and Heather Wilson as Senior Managing Directors within Strategic Communications, strengthening its M&A, shareholder activism and communications services.
1. Diversified Consulting Drives Outperformance
FTI Consulting’s shares have outpaced industry gains over the past twelve months thanks to a balanced portfolio spanning crisis management, forensic consulting, strategic communications and transaction advisory. With revenues of $3.70 billion in fiscal 2024 and more than 8,100 employees across 32 countries, the firm benefits from recurring demand for high-margin forensic and restructuring services as well as growing assignments in digital risk and transformation. Management’s guidance for modest earnings growth in 2026 reflects stable engagement pipelines, robust liquidity and conservative cost management.
2. Share Buyback Program Supports Shareholder Returns
Since initiating its $500 million share repurchase authorization in late 2024, FTI Consulting has repurchased nearly 3 percent of its outstanding shares, offsetting dilution from its long-term incentive program. With a cash balance of approximately $450 million and no significant debt maturities before 2027, the company retains flexibility to deploy capital for additional buybacks or targeted acquisitions in high-growth segments, supporting per-share metrics even under modest top-line expansion scenarios.
3. Strategic Cybersecurity Leadership Appointment
The recent hire of Jason Smolanoff as Senior Managing Director in the Cybersecurity practice further strengthens FTI Consulting’s Forensic and Litigation segment. Mr. Smolanoff brings 25 years of experience, including leadership of Kroll’s Cyber Risk practice and service as an FBI Supervisory Special Agent on national security investigations. His arrival is expected to accelerate cross-sell opportunities in incident response, digital forensics and strategic risk advisory, a segment that generated over 15 percent of fiscal 2024 revenues and carries high margin potential.
4. Expanded Transaction Communications Capabilities
FTI Consulting has bolstered its Strategic Communications segment with the appointments of Dan Scorpio in Chicago and Heather Wilson in Los Angeles as Senior Managing Directors. Both bring decade-plus track records advising on high-profile M&A, shareholder activism and crisis issues for Fortune 500 clients. Their geographic placements extend FTI’s presence in the Midwest and West Coast markets, positioning the firm to capture a rising wave of deal-related communications mandates as global M&A volume rebounds.