Jeff Kessler, Senior Security Analyst at Imperial Capital, to Retire
In 2020, Kessler became the first financial analyst to be named to the SSI Industry Hall of Fame. Brian Ruttenbur will fill his role at Imperial Capital.
Jeff Kessler
NEW YORK CITY — Jeff Kessler, a managing director and senior security analyst at Imperial Capital, has announced his retirement from the organization after leading its security industry analysis for 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, 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, according to an announcement.
“Jeff contributed to the success of the firm’s security franchise and we are grateful for his work as a Senior Security Industry Analyst,” says Tim Sullivan, president of Imperial Capital.
In 2020, Kessler became the first financial analyst to be named to the SSI Industry Hall of Fame.
“After 13 years, it’s been a fantastic overall experience with memories that are among the best of my life,” Kessler states, reflecting on his tenure at Imperial Capital, which concludes May 14. “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,” says 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.”
Following Kessler’s departure, Brian Ruttenbur will assume coverage of the Security & Defense sector for Imperial Capital’s Equity Research Group. Ruttenbur, a highly regarded thought leader in the defense and security verticals provides more than 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, 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 where he gained valuable experience in corporate divestitures, private capital raises and sales processes of private companies.
Ruttenbur was formerly the director of equity research at Drexel while covering the defense and security space. A two-time Wall Street Journal top ranked analyst in the sector, four-time Thomson Reuters top ranked analyst for earnings accuracy, and two-time Thomson Reuters for sector stock performance, Ruttenbur is an established idea generator in the sectors, the announcement states.
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