Houlihan Lokey has appointed Mark Ward as a managing director in its business services group.

Based between Manchester and London, Ward will focus on expanding the firm’s IT services coverage, working closely with senior colleagues.

He joins from DC Advisory, where he advised clients across IT consulting, software development, data analytics and managed services, and previously held roles at Clearwater International and PwC.

The appointment further bolsters the New York-listed firm’s European platform in business services M&A and corporate finance.