Business advisor, investor, executive counselor, philanthropist — these are terms frequently used to describe Al Smith IV, founder and chief executive officer of A.E. Smith Associates. Barack Obama, Tony Blair, and leaders of corporations around the globe know Al Smith and call him friend.
After 35 successful years on Wall Street working as a specialist and member of the New York Stock Exchange, Al founded his own firm in 2009 while simultaneously sustaining a long list of corporate and philanthropic activities. As the great-grandson of the legendary Al Smith, four-time governor of New York, he served as the director, secretary, and dinner chairman for the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation, as well as master of ceremonies at the annual Alfred E. Smith Foundation Dinner for 32 years. Guests of honor at the 2012 dinner included President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney.
Al also serves on the board of the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative, Stamford Hospital Foundation and Mutual of America. He served as the chair for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation as well as a member of the Kroll Bond Rating Agency among many other civic and business endeavors.
Among the youngest members ever to join the New York Stock Exchange, Al began his Wall Street career as an independent floor broker, later relocating to Chicago to join Mitchell-Hutchins, where he served as vice president until 1979. Upon returning to New York, he was named partner of CMJ Partners. In 1997, he joined Bear Wagner as managing director, a position he held until 2006.
Al’s work on behalf of charities in New York and Connecticut is extensive. He is the chairman of Hackers for Hope, an organization he founded in 1988 to raise money for cancer research and treatment. Since its inception, Hackers for Hope has donated over $17,000,000 to the Bennett Cancer Center, Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers Comprehensive Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and other organizations committed to finding a cure for and treating cancer.
He also served as chairman of the Irish Chamber of Commerce, served as trustee of Calvary Hospital, past president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and served as chairman of the board of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan. Over the years, Al has received numerous honors and awards including:
- Ellis Island Medal of Honor;
- National Brotherhood Award, National Conference of Christians and Jews;
- American Cancer Society’s Gold Sword of Hope Award;
- Terence Cardinal Cooke Humanitarian Award.
In 2013, Al was named grand marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City. He is married to Nan Moore Smith. They have two children and six grandchildren.