Ken Moelis Steps Down as CEO of Moelis & Co., Names Successor

Ken Moelis will step down as Chief Executive Officer of the investment bank Moelis & Co., the firm he co-founded, effective October 1, 2025. He will transition to the role of executive chair, the bank announced on Monday, June 9, 2025. This move aligns with a succession strategy seen at other major Wall Street banks, including Morgan Stanley and Lazard, where outgoing CEOs remain involved to ensure a smooth transition. Co-founder and Co-President Jeff Raich will assume the position of executive vice chair.

This leadership change marks a significant development for Moelis & Co., which has been under Ken Moelis's sole leadership since its founding in 2007. Moelis, a prominent figure in finance with over four decades of experience, was previously a banker to President Donald Trump and a senior executive at UBS. His firm is part of a group of independent investment banks founded by notable bankers who opted to build their own publicly listed advisory-focused companies, differentiating them from universal banks offering broader services.

Moelis expressed confidence in the transition, reportedly telling the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news, that he expects it to be the "smoothest transition ever in the history of Wall Street." In a statement, he added, "This is the right moment to elevate the next generation of leadership and create further opportunities for internal growth."

CEO-designate Navid Mahmoodzadegan is also a co-founder of the bank and currently serves as its Co-President. His prior experience includes serving as the global head of media investment banking at UBS from 2001 to 2007, and he also worked as an attorney before entering investment banking. According to proxy filings, Moelis was paid $16 million in 2024, an increase from $9 million in 2023.