Mark Patricof is leaving Houlihan Lokey to start something ‘big’

Houlihan Lokey Managing Director Mark Patricof is leaving the New York investment bank at the end of the week, The Post has learned.

Patricof, who helped shop Gawker Media to potential buyers in 2015 — leading to its sale to Univision for $135 million — is leaving to start something “big and new,” sources said.

A spokesperson for the firm on Wednesday confirmed Patricof’s exit but declined to elaborate. One source, citing the fact that the media banker was leaving with one year left on his contract, said the parting is amicable.

Patricof, the co-head of Houlihan Lokey’s technology, media and telecommunications group, has been with the boutique shop for three years. During that time, the banker has closed more than 80 deals, including the sale of PlayNetwork to TouchTunes and the sale of Webster Hall to Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment.

Prior to joining the company, Patricof was cofounder and managing partner at MESA, a merchant bank advisory firm where he specialized in digital and traditional media and entertainment-industry transactions. He sold MESA to Houlihan.

Patricof also managed MESA Ventures, a seed fund that partnered with top-tier VCs to invest in early-stage digital-media, e-commerce and advertising- technology companies around the globe.