Record of Success

In a corporate career that included several multinational companies, Steve Smith has helped businesses expand, achieve critical mass, and gain critical expertise through strategic organic growth and M&A activities. Most recently, Steve assisted Hewlett Packard’s Services Division to grow through acquisitions, equity investments, joint ventures, and new subsidiaries. Steve recommends a collaborative process approach involving 1) strategy definition, 2) scanning the market, 3) developing a tactical list, 4) investing in internal or external resources, and 5) executing with care with lots of due diligence and follow-up.

At Compaq Computer Corporation, Steve led the completion of 15+ acquisitions in nine countries in pursuit of a corporate drive to provide service directly to multinational customers. The keys were to be sure that Compaq had the skills and geographical presence in established markets and emerging economies to be on the ground when customers needed service.

Leading the Way

At Digital Equipment Corporation, Steve built a comprehensive financial career, followed by growth positions in marketing, customer interface, and strategic divestments of non-core businesses. As CFO of the Storage Systems Mfg/Eng Group of Business Units, Steve led over 200 Finance and Administrative staff to achieve excellent business partnership to five BU’s, seven plants, and six engineering groups, spanning three continents. Previously, as CFO of the Commercial Group of Market BU’s, Steve provided critical planning and control functions for a rapidly growing part of DEC’s business, leading 150 professional staff in supporting five P&L businesses involving finance, accounting, IT systems, credit, and order administration. As DEC entered the 90’s and faced slowing growth with losses, Steve tackled new challenges: Benchmarking and streamlining support functions; performing customer marketing of finance expertise; leading transitional activities in Hong Kong; and divesting of the non-core Customer Education business, generating gains for profit in three of four quarters in a tough fiscal year.

Previously in his career, Steve led Internal Audit, Money and Banking, Insurance, and Foreign Currency Risk Management. Starting in Wall Street with Chemical Bank, Steve worked later with Tyco Labs, and United Brands prior to joining Digital.

Commitment You Can Count On

Steve is a native New Englander, and has a B.A. in Economics from Harvard College and an MBA in International Business from Boston University. He and his wife, Susan, are active in church activities and celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2004. They have two married children. Steve’s favorite recreational activities include skiing, hiking, and trail management. He enjoys his leadership role in management of the Appalachian Trail both in Massachusetts and as part of the national management board.

publication reprinted from HP New England Highlights