Jeff Smith (HR)

Jeff Smith is a notable HR executive. Having received his PhD in industrial organizational psychology, he’s studied how groups work together and why some companies succeed where others fail. He’s known for his expertise in all aspects of human resources, including performance evaluations, compensation structuring, and recruiting.

His colleagues trust him to find the right people to fill different roles, so they can handle even the most complex objectives ahead. For more than a decade, Jeff Smith was a valuable asset at BlackRock HR, both before and after its partnership with Barclays Global Investors (BGI). As the Head of Global Human Resources there, he served on several committees. He was asked to co-lead the BGI merger in 2009, a ringing endorsement of his organizational and people skills.

During his time on the Global Executive, Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, and Global Operating committees, he became more attuned to international HR practices. He was also a strong advocate for diversity among talent. He's able to flesh out what he wants to see in different roles before finding people from different backgrounds who can find creative ways to move forward. He advises senior leaders on how to allocate capital so they can attract professionals at the top of their game. After studying psychology for years, first as an undergraduate and then at the doctoral level, he’s adept at looking past a resume to understand the real value of each candidate.

Before joining BlackRock HR, Smith was the Sr. Consultant for Personnel Decisions International and the VP of People Development at Time Warner. His work has been cited in a variety of articles and books on the best practices in human resources, including the Harvard Business Review and the playbook Talent Wins by Ram Charan, Dominic Barton and Dennis Carey. Jeff Smith knows that the rules of his industry have changed over time, owing largely to a rapidly shifting environment. Companies that want to scale to meet demand will need talent directors that can think as quickly as the culture updates.