FTI Consulting hires Jason Smolanoff to expand cyber practice, buybacks support 2026 growth

FTIFTI

FTI Consulting shares outperformed the broader consulting sector, with ongoing share buybacks and strong liquidity underpinning projected modest earnings growth in 2026. The appointment of cybersecurity veteran Jason Smolanoff as Senior Managing Director aims to expand FTI's forensic and litigation consulting cyber services and drive future revenue.

1. Diversified Consulting Model Drives Continued Revenue Growth

FTI Consulting generated $3.70 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2024, reflecting a 7 percent increase over the prior year. The company’s four core segments—Forensic and Litigation Consulting, Economic Consulting, Technology, and Strategic Communications—each contributed to topline gains, with the Technology segment growing 12 percent on the strength of digital transformation and data analytics contracts. FTI ended Q3 2025 with cash and short-term investments of $680 million, providing ample liquidity to fund strategic investments and support ongoing share repurchases. Since Q1 2024, the firm has repurchased $150 million of its common stock under its current authorization, underscoring management’s commitment to enhancing shareholder value.

2. Appointment of Cybersecurity Expert Enhances Forensic and Litigation Practice

On January 13, 2026, FTI announced the appointment of Jason Smolanoff as a Senior Managing Director in its Cybersecurity practice within the Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment. Smolanoff brings more than 25 years of experience in information security, having led Kroll’s Cyber Risk practice and founded CISO Advisory & Investigations. Under his leadership, Kroll’s practice expanded services across incident response, digital forensics and technical testing. At FTI, he will spearhead the expansion of strategic risk advisory and complex investigations offerings. With global cyber threats rising 15 percent year-over-year, investors should consider Smolanoff’s addition a catalyst for further market share gains in high-margin cybersecurity engagements.

Sources

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