NEW YORK – J.F. Lehman & Company, a leading middle-market private equity firm focused on the defense, aerospace and maritime sectors, recently announced the addition of two professionals to its New York office and the promotion of another professional. Robert H. Lee joins as Senior Associate, William J. Hanenberg Jr. joins as Senior Analyst and H. Lee French was promoted to Associate. As part of our transaction teams, Messrs. Lee and French will identify and analyze investment opportunities, and Mr. Hanenberg will focus on supporting all aspects of acquisition transactions.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Lee was a Vice President in Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin's Aerospace•Defense•Government Group in Los Angeles. While there he sourced and executed numerous M&A transactions in the defense and aerospace sectors. Prior to Houlihan Lokey, Mr. Lee worked in investment banking for Deutsche Bank Securities and SG Cowen & Co. Mr. Lee earned a B.S. in chemistry with a minor in civil engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and received his M.B.A. from the University of Southern California. Mr. Lee was a Captain in the U.S. Air Force serving in a number of positions during his military career including positions at the Air Force Space Command and the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.
Mr. French joined J.F. Lehman & Co. two years ago and was recently promoted to Associate. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. French was a member of the Leveraged Finance Group at Wachovia Securities where he participated in the origination, structuring and execution of acquisition financing and related credit products. Mr. French graduated from Washington & Lee University where he received a B.A. in economics.
Mr. Hanenberg joins the firm from Banc of America Securities where he was an investment banking analyst in the Global Industrials Group. His prior experience includes analyst positions at Redwood Capital Group (a technology-focused M&A boutique) and Dealogic. Mr. Hanenberg earned a B.S. in economics from Duke University.