Renowned AI Expert Xi Chen Joins Compass Lexecon

Rhea-AI Summary

FTI Consulting (NYSE: FCN) announced that Dr. Xi Chen, NYU Stern professor and Andre Meyer Faculty Fellow, has affiliated with its Compass Lexecon subsidiary effective Dec 17, 2025. Dr. Chen is described as an expert in machine learning, AI, quantitative economics and digital platforms and will advise on digital market competition, online advertising auctions, personalized pricing, recommender systems, algorithmic fairness, privacy, generative AI, blockchain and tokenization.

His background includes collaborations with Google, Meta, Adobe, Bloomberg, Alibaba and JPMorganChase, prior work as Principal Scientist at Amazon Ads, academic publications, two books on Web3 and AI, and awards including Forbes 30 Under 30.

Key Figures

Academic experts added 20 experts Compass Lexecon additions in 2025

Forbes 30 Under 30 2017 listing Forbes 30 Under 30: Science recognition

Best 40 Under 40 2020 listing Poets & Quants World’s Best 40 Under 40 MBA Professors

Market Reality Check

$176.70 Last Close

Volume Volume 389,777 vs 20-day average 281,787 (relative volume 1.38) ahead of this AI-focused hire news. normal

Technical Price $170.87 is trading above the 200-day MA of $164.16 and 16.52% below the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

Peers show mixed moves: HURN +0.35%, ICFI +0.55%, CRAI +1.69%, while BAH -1.27% and DGNX -4.35%. With sector momentum flagged as stock-specific, FCN’s modest +0.16% action appears more tied to company developments than a broad consulting rally.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 10	Senior hire healthcare	Positive	+0.0%	Added senior managing director to Healthcare Risk Management & Advisory practice.
Dec 09	CHRO transition	Positive	+0.7%	Appointed new CHRO with continuity from prior HR leadership in advisory role.
Dec 03	Strategic comms hire	Positive	+1.0%	Named Senior Managing Director in Singapore to drive growth in Asia.
Dec 03	Private equity hires	Positive	+0.4%	Added four senior hires to strengthen London transformation and PE services.
Nov 10	EMEA tax hires	Positive	-0.3%	Expanded EMEA tax advisory team with two senior leaders in London and Dubai.

Pattern Detected

Recent news for FCN has centered on senior hires and practice expansion, typically followed by modest single-day moves, suggesting the market views such announcements as incrementally positive but not transformational.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, FTI Consulting has repeatedly highlighted strategic hires and practice expansions. On Nov. 10, 2025, it strengthened EMEA tax capabilities with two senior hires, followed on Dec. 3, 2025 by four senior additions to its London transformation practices and a separate senior communications hire in Singapore. Subsequent news on Dec. 9 and Dec. 10 focused on leadership continuity and healthcare risk management. Today’s AI-focused Compass Lexecon affiliation continues this pattern of augmenting specialized expertise.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement adds a prominent AI and digital markets expert to Compass Lexecon, reinforcing FTI Consulting’s focus on AI-related legal, antitrust and financial matters. Earlier AI-tagged events in 2025 included new AI review tools and research on legal departments’ AI adoption, indicating a multi-pronged AI strategy. Investors may watch how this deep bench of AI talent translates into Economic Consulting growth, especially as FCN trades above its $164.16 200-day moving average yet remains below its 52-week high.

Key Terms

machine learning technical

"Dr. Chen, who is based in New York, is an award-winning expert in machine learning, artificial intelligence,"

Machine learning is a set of computer programs that learn patterns from large amounts of data and improve their predictions or decisions over time, like a recipe that gets better each time it’s adjusted based on taste tests. For investors it matters because these systems can speed up analysis, spot trends or risks humans might miss, automate routine work, and potentially create competitive advantages or cost savings that affect a company’s performance.

artificial intelligence technical

"award-winning expert in machine learning, artificial intelligence, quantitative economics and digital platforms."

Artificial intelligence is the ability of computers and machines to perform tasks that typically require human thinking, such as understanding language, recognizing patterns, or making decisions. For investors, it matters because AI can enhance efficiency, uncover new insights, and enable smarter strategies, potentially impacting the value and performance of companies that develop or utilize this technology.

digital platforms technical

"artificial intelligence, quantitative economics and digital platforms."

Digital platforms are online services or software that connect people, businesses, or devices to exchange goods, services, information or payments—think of them as virtual marketplaces or highways that route activity between users. Investors watch them closely because their value often comes from scale and network effects (more users make the platform more useful), steady revenue from transactions or subscriptions, and exposure to fast growth, competition and regulatory risks.

algorithmic recommendation technical

"covering digital markets, algorithmic recommendation, privacy and financial forecasting."

An algorithmic recommendation is a buy, sell or hold suggestion generated by a computer program that analyzes data — such as prices, news, fundamentals or user behavior — to predict what might happen to a stock. Investors care because these automated signals can influence trading, liquidity and short‑term prices much like a widely followed weather forecast shapes travel plans, but they can also amplify errors or hidden biases when the underlying model is flawed or opaque.

recommender systems technical

"including digital market competition, online advertising auctions, dynamic and personalized pricing, recommender systems, algorithmic fairness"

Recommender systems are software tools that analyze what people like, buy, or click to suggest products, content, or actions they are likely to prefer—think of a friendly shop assistant who remembers past choices and offers tailored suggestions. For investors, they matter because effective recommenders can boost user engagement, sales, and loyalty, turning more casual users into repeat customers and improving the predictability and growth of a company’s revenue.

algorithmic fairness technical

"dynamic and personalized pricing, recommender systems, algorithmic fairness and privacy, generative and agentic AI,"

Algorithmic fairness describes efforts to design and test computer-driven decision systems so they do not systematically disadvantage particular groups of people. Investors care because biased algorithms can cause legal penalties, lost customers, brand damage and unexpected costs; ensuring fairness is like checking a store layout so every shopper has an equal chance to find and buy products, reducing risk and protecting future revenue.

blockchain technical

"the economics of digital assets, blockchain and tokenization of real-world assets."

A blockchain is a digital record-keeping system that securely stores information across many computers, making it difficult to alter or tamper with. Think of it like a shared, unchangeable ledger that everyone can see and verify, ensuring transparency and trust. For investors, this technology offers a way to securely track transactions and assets without relying on a central authority, potentially reducing costs and increasing security.

tokenization technical

"digital assets, blockchain and tokenization of real-world assets."

Tokenization is the process of converting real-world assets or rights into digital tokens stored on a computer network. This allows assets, such as property or investments, to be divided into smaller parts, making them easier to buy, sell, or transfer electronically. For investors, tokenization can increase access to a wider range of investments and make transactions faster and more efficient.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced that Dr. Xi Chen, Professor and Andre Meyer Faculty Fellow at the Department of Technology, Operations and Statistics at the New York University Stern School of Business, has affiliated with its subsidiary Compass Lexecon.

Dr. Chen, who is based in New York, is an award-winning expert in machine learning, artificial intelligence, quantitative economics and digital platforms. He has collaborated on major AI and platform-related projects with Google, Meta, Adobe, Bloomberg, Alibaba and JPMorganChase, covering digital markets, algorithmic recommendation, privacy and financial forecasting.

In his role at Compass Lexecon, Dr. Chen will work closely on issues central to today’s litigation landscape, including digital market competition, online advertising auctions, dynamic and personalized pricing, recommender systems, algorithmic fairness and privacy, generative and agentic AI, and the economics of digital assets, blockchain and tokenization of real-world assets.

“We are thrilled to welcome Xi to our top-notch roster of affiliates,” said Daniel R. Fischel, Compass Lexecon President and Chairman. “His work has informed real-world practice in generative and agentic AI, digital marketplaces, auction and pricing algorithms, and decentralized finance, shaping how firms deploy AI-driven decision systems at scale. His expertise in machine learning and AI will add excellent value to our client offerings.”

Dr. Chen’s research has been published in top academic journals, including the Journal of the American Statistical Association, Management Science, Journal of Machine Learning Research and Annals of Applied Statistics. He is the co-author of Web3: Blockchain, the New Economy, and the Self-Sovereign Internet and co-editor of Beyond AI: ChatGPT, Web3, and the Business Landscape of Tomorrow.

Dr. Chen has received several awards for his groundbreaking work, including a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30: Science list in 2017, and Poets & Quants named him one of the World’s Best 40 Under 40 MBA Professors in 2020. He is also an elected fellow of both the American Statistical Association and the Institute of Mathematical Statistics.

Previously, Dr. Chen served as a Principal Scientist at Amazon Ads, where he led modeling work for global advertising marketplaces, including auction design, delivery optimization, supply forecasting, pacing, bidding strategies and LLM-enhanced pipelines.

Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Chen said, “I am delighted to join Compass Lexecon, and I look forward to collaborating with their outstanding team of economists to advise clients on topics at the heart of modern antitrust, digital-market and financial litigation.”

The appointment of Dr. Chen continues Compass Lexecon’s growth and investment in its deep bench of antitrust and finance experts. The firm has added 20 academic experts in 2025, along with the appointments of Faten Sabry, Jeremy Verlinda, Ron Laschever, Ahsan Kirmani, Alexander White, Piyal Hyder, Erin Smith and William Hrycay.

About Compass Lexecon
Compass Lexecon is internationally recognized as a leading economic consulting firm with preeminent competition, finance, intellectual property, international arbitration, and energy practices. With more than 600 professionals in 25 offices around the world, Compass Lexecon offers a global perspective on economic matters. For the past 19 years, Compass Lexecon has been ranked as one of the leading antitrust economics firms in the world by the Global Competition Review. To learn more about Compass Lexecon or to find one of our professionals, please visit www.compasslexecon.com.

About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a leading global expert firm for organizations facing crisis and transformation, with more than 8,100 employees located in 32 countries and territories as of September 30, 2025. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consulting’s services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalized and independently managed. The Company generated $3.70 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2024. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.

FTI Consulting, Inc.
555 12^th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
+1.202.312.9100

Investor Contact:
Mollie Hawkes
+1.617.747.1791
mollie.hawkes@fticonsulting.com

Media Contact:
Nick Emmons
+1.617.510.1676
nick.emmons@fticonsulting.com

FAQ

Who joined Compass Lexecon on Dec 17, 2025 and what is their role at FCN?

Dr. Xi Chen affiliated with Compass Lexecon and will advise on AI, digital markets, advertising auctions, pricing, privacy and blockchain.

How does Dr. Xi Chen's experience relate to Compass Lexecon's practice at FCN?

Dr. Chen brings machine learning, generative AI and platform economics experience relevant to antitrust, digital-market and financial litigation advisory work.

What notable prior employers and collaborators does Dr. Xi Chen have?

He has collaborated with Google, Meta, Adobe, Bloomberg, Alibaba and JPMorganChase and previously served as Principal Scientist at Amazon Ads.

Does Dr. Xi Chen have published research or books investors should note?

Yes; he has publications in top academic journals and is co-author of Web3: Blockchain, the New Economy, and the Self-Sovereign Internet and co-editor of Beyond AI.

What recognitions has Dr. Xi Chen received that may indicate expertise?

Honors cited include Forbes 30 Under 30 (2017), Poets & Quants World’s Best 40 Under 40 MBA Professors (2020), and fellowships in major statistics societies.

How does this appointment fit into Compass Lexecon's hiring at FCN in 2025?

The appointment is part of Compass Lexecon adding 20 academic experts in 2025 and several named affiliate hires to grow its antitrust and finance bench.