David Smith
Senior Executive Vice President, Managing Director

David Smith is responsible for Kessler's North America mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Smith brings deep expertise in the payments industry to Kessler, having spent 10 years at First Annapolis Consulting where he co-managed the firm's card-issuing practice — its largest and most successful practice area — and worked with leading financial institutions around the world.

While at First Annapolis, Mr. Smith developed comprehensive re-entry strategies for banks with diverse capabilities and outsourcing needs. He was closely involved with all stages of the entry process, from directing RFPs for processing and negotiating contracts to overseeing marketing collateral and direct mail campaigns. During his tenure at First Annapolis, he also assisted in some of the highest-profile M&A transactions of the last decade, including Sony Corporation's $1.2 billion portfolio sale to Chase Card Services.

Prior to his work at First Annapolis, Mr. Smith was Director of Finance at Commercial Credit. He was also head of Strategic Planning at Traveler's Bank.

Mr. Smith holds an undergraduate degree from Duke University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.