Houlihan Lokey, the US headquartered investment banking group, has appointed a new Asia head to the lead the firm's corporate finance, restructuring and financial advisory businesses across the region.

David Timblick is now the managing director and head of Asia (including Japan). He replaces David Putnam, who has left the company. Putnam was instrumental to the establishment of the firm's first Asian office in Hong Kong in 2006.

Timblick joins from Lazard Asia, where he has worked for the last 14 years, most recently as head of the Asia advisory practice. Prior to that, he held senior roles at the Korea Merchant Banking Corporation and Arthur Andersen Consulting.

The position is based in Hong Kong.

Houlihan Lokey has 16 offices worldwide, including offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Through its investment in India-based Avista Advisory, it also serves clients in Mumbai and Singapore.