Signal Hill Founder Scott Wieler Retires from DC Advisory after 44-year Stint in Investment Banking

Scott A. Wieler

Signal Hill founder Scott A. Wieler has joined Utah’s Bellemont Partners as a managing partner, after stepping down from Daiwa Securities-owned DC Advisory, an international investment bank into which he merged his firm in 2017.

“Today, I can announce that on May 15th, I will officially retire from DC Advisory, following 44 years in investment banking, 22 of which were spent as CEO or chairman (that’s one less than Richard Handler, CEO of Jefferies, the longest-serving Wall Street banker!),” the chairman of the global investment bank said in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday.

‘Dreams Business’

“It has been an incredible journey leading DC Advisory US and its predecessor. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together and what more is to come,” he said in a press release. “Our dedicated employees, leadership team, and supportive shareholder have made being in the ‘dreams business’ and providing ‘The Right Advice’ for our clients, immensely satisfying.”

Japan’s Daiwa formed DC Advisory by merging Signal Hill, founded by Wieler in 2002, and Sagent Advisors. Before founding Signal Hill, Wieler served the storied Alex Brown in the 1990s. He holds a BA from Boston College and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

‘Principled’ Leadership
“On behalf of the Daiwa management team, we extend our profound appreciation for Scott’s strategic vision, dedication to the firm, and principled leadership style,” said Hiroki Ikeda, Daiwa’s deputy global head of investment banking. DC Advisory’s CEO, Bill Kohr, was named to succeed Wieler as chairman.

DC Advisory has over 700 bankers in 23 locations in Asia, Europe and the United States. It offers independent advice on M&A, debt raisings and restructurings, private capital, and secondary advisory in 11 industry sectors. According to Wieler, the bank is “18-24 months away from realizing the vision to be a durable, sustainable, and diversified $100m+ business in the U.S.”