NEW YORK — Mark Smith has joined Los Angeles-based investment bank Houlihan Lokey Inc. as a director in its industrials group, where he will focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the metals and mining sector.

Smith previously was president and chief executive officer of independent consulting firm Metallum Advisors, according to the company. He also was a managing director in the metals and mining practice at HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. in New York.

"Mark brings a tremendous range of experience to the industrials team at Houlihan Lokey, having worked on M&A transactions, strategic advisory, capital raising, valuation and a number of related investment banking activities over a nearly 20-year career," senior managing director William Peluchiwski said in a statement.