The firm was founded in 2002 by Scott Wieler, the firm's Chief Executive Officer, and former co-head of Alex. Brown's media and telecommunications group, together with Tom Johnson, a former Managing Director in the Financial Institutions Group at Alex. Brown. Since that time, the firm has prospered by serving clients with senior-level advice and high-quality execution of strategic transactions.

Over the years, however, a larger vision emerged to build on the quality legacy and client service tradition of Alex. Brown, and in 2006 Project Baltimore came to fruition, adding full-service capital markets and institutional research capabilities in order to better service the firm’s growing client base.

With the introduction of these new services, Signal Hill has grown to include 20 partners, 16 of whom are former Alex. Brown professionals.