Imperial Capital Announces Retirement of Security Industry Analyst, Jeff Kessler

After driving the organization’s security industry insights contributing to the growth and success of its security franchise over the past 13 years, the SSI Hall of Famer decides to focus on family, travel and life pursuits.


LOS ANGELES, April 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imperial Capital, LLC (“Imperial Capital”) announced today that Managing Director and Senior Security Analyst, Jeff Kessler, is retiring from the organization after leading its security industry analysis over the past 13 years. After a 38 year run in the business, serving as a senior security industry analyst for Lehman Brothers with the balance spent at Imperial Capital, Mr. Kessler has continually provided reasoned industry/company analysis to both the industry and the investment community, filling a void in the security industry for much of the time. In 2020, Mr. Kessler became the first financial analyst to be named to the Security Sales & Integration’s “Hall of Fame.”

“Jeff contributed to the success of the firm’s security franchise and we are grateful for his work as a Senior Security Industry Analyst,” said Tim Sullivan, President of Imperial Capital, LLC.

“After 13 years, it’s been a fantastic overall experience with memories that are among the best of my life,” Kessler said reflecting on his tenure at Imperial Capital, which concludes May 14, 2021. “I’m especially grateful for the franchise we have created and all the industry contacts I have had the pleasure of engaging on all sides of the security industry. My heartfelt thanks go out to everyone, along with my strong intent to stay in touch and potentially contribute in new ways.”

“Jeff is a very highly regarded industry professional who has done a lot for the security industry and Imperial Capital,” said John E. Mack III, Executive Vice President and Co-Head of Investment Banking at Imperial. “It’s been an honor to have Jeff be part of the security industry’s remarkable evolution over the past three decades, and his knowledge, commitment and engagement made a profound difference that will have a lasting impact.”

In light of Mr. Kessler’s departure, Brian Ruttenbur, will assume coverage of the Security & Defense sector for Imperial Capital’s Equity Research Group. Mr. Ruttenbur, a highly regarded thought leader in the Defense and Security verticals provides over 25 years of industry experience as a top ranked Security & Defense Analyst at SunTrust, Regions Morgan Keegan, CRT Stern Agee, BB&T and Drexel Hamilton. Most recently, Mr. Ruttenbur spent over two years as a Director, Investment Banking both at Drexel Hamilton and Imperial Capital working on lower middle market investment banking transactions in the Defense and Cybersecurity sectors gaining valuable experience in corporate divestitures, private capital raises, and sales processes of private companies. Prior to this, Mr. Ruttenbur was the Director of Equity Research at Drexel while covering the Defense and Security space. A 2x Wall Street Journal top ranked analyst in the sector, 4x Thomson Reuters top ranked analyst for earrings accuracy, and 2x Thomson Reuters for sector stock performance, Mr. Ruttenbur is an established idea generator in the sectors. Mr. Ruttenbur earned a BA from University of Tennessee and MAS from University of Montana.

About Imperial Capital, LLC

Imperial Capital, LLC is a full-service investment bank offering a uniquely integrated platform of comprehensive services to institutional investors and middle market companies. We offer sophisticated sales and trading services to institutional investors and a wide range of investment banking advisory, capital markets and restructuring services to middle market corporate clients. Paired with our proprietary research and sales & trading desk analysis, we provide investment analysis across an issuer's capital structure, including bank loans, debt securities, the hybrid/bank capital marketplace (through our ELP Framework), post-reorganization equities, special situations claims and listed and unlisted equities. Our comprehensive and integrated service platform, expertise across the global capital structure, and deep industry sector knowledge enable us to provide clients with research driven ideas, superior advisory services, and trade execution. We are quick to identify opportunities under any market conditions and we have a proven track record of offering creative, proprietary solutions to our clients. Imperial Capital, LLC has three principal businesses: Investment Banking, Institutional Sales & Trading and Institutional Research. More information about Imperial Capital, LLC can be found at www.imperialcapital.com.

For more information regarding Imperial Capital, please contact:
Mark Martis
+1 310 246 3674
mmartis@imperialcapital.com

About Imperial Capital (International), LLP

Imperial Capital International, founded in 2011, is an affiliate of Imperial Capital, LLC with an office in central London. Complementing Imperial Capital’s existing corporate credit sales and trading franchise, Imperial Capital International expanded the Imperial Capital franchise into the EEA. The company focuses on the entire credit spectrum and takes a full capital structure research approach to supplement sales and trading services to its European institutional clients.

For more information regarding Imperial Capital (International), LLP, please contact:
Emma McClintock
+ 44 (0) 207 650 5429
emcclintock@imperialcapital.com