Navid Mahmoodzadegan will succeed Ken Moelis as CEO of global independent investment bank Moelis & Co. The firm has been at the center of many high-profile entertainment and media transactions, including Skydance Media’s pending $8 billion merger deal with Paramount Global.
Moelis, who has served as CEO since the firm’s launch in 2007, will assume the role of executive chairman and continue to advise clients on critical strategic decisions. Mahmoodzadegan, who has served as co-founder and co-president, will also join Moelis & Co.’s board of directors. Co-founder and co-president Jeff Raich, meanwhile, will become executive vice chairman and continue to lead key business areas. The changes will become effective on Oct. 1, 2025.
“This is the right moment to elevate the next generation of leadership and create further opportunities for internal growth,” said Moelis in a statement Monday. “Navid is a founder of our firm and has been a trusted partner to me for 30 years. As co-president, he has been involved in every major decision we have made and has been a key driver of our firm’s most impactful strategic growth initiatives. He’s a unique talent and one of the best strategic advisors I have ever worked with.”
Since co-founding Moelis & Co. in 2007, Mahmoodzadegan has advised on more than 200 media transactions. In addition to Skydance Media, he also recently advised Dorna Sports on its €4.2 billion sale to Liberty Media; LA.’s Angel City FC on a sale of a controlling stake to Disney CEO Bob Iger and his wife Willow Bay; AMC Theatres on a $2.45 billion capital raise and debt extension; UTA on its acquisition of sports agency Representatives of Outstanding Footballers (ROOF); and New Mountain Capital on its acquisition of Broadcast Music, Inc.
“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together these past 18 years since founding Moelis and am honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as CEO at this important moment in the evolution of our firm,” Mahmoodzadegan said in the press release. “As we move forward, we will continue to put clients first — that has always been the key to the Firm’s long-term success and achieving outstanding results for our shareholders. We have never been better positioned to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities ahead.”
A graduate of Harvard Law School, Mahmoodzadegan practiced law as an attorney at Irell & Manella before launching his career as an investment banker with a six-year stint (1995-2001) at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, where he worked alongside Moelis. He then followed Moelis to UBS Investment Bank, where he served as global head of media investment banking from 2001 to 2007.