State Street Corp. has appointed State Street veteran Stephen Smit as president, State Street Trust Company Canada, and head of investment servicing and investment research and trading in Canada.
In his new role, Smit will assume responsibility for State Street’s investor services and global markets businesses in Canada. He served as managing director of State Street Global Markets in Canada from 1995 to 2000.
Smit will be responsible for the development and execution of key strategies for the investor services and global markets businesses in Canada. He will also be responsible for customer management and regulatory matters.
Smit will lead the Canadian management team of John Folk and Ron Robertson, managing directors of investor services in Canada; Kevin Drynan, head of sales and relationship management; Don D’Eramo, head of securities finance; and John Walks, head of State Street Global Markets.
“Steve has been a valuable asset in helping to advance State Street’s businesses in three continents,” says Joe Antonellis, vice chairman of State Street Corp.. “We see great opportunity for continued growth in Canada and Steve’s leadership will ensure we continue to capitalize on market opportunities.”
Smit, a 20-year veteran of State Street, joined the company in 1987 with responsibility for State Street’s international treasury services including foreign exchange, multicurrency short-term investments and risk advisory services. After serving as head of global markets in Canada, Smit went to London as managing director for State Street Global Markets’ Global Link business there with responsibility for the corporation’s e-finance strategy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Before assuming his current recent role in Boston as head of State Street Associates, the company’s research partnership with academia and industry experts, Smit was general manager of State Street Bank & Trust Company’s Tokyo branch.
“I am excited to return to Canada where we see tremendous opportunity to further grow our business,” adds Smit. “Having expanded our presence in Canada with the closing of the Investors Financial Services Corp. acquisition in July, we look forward to continuing our strong record of providing customers with the most comprehensive services in the industry.”
Smit received his Masters of Business Administration degree from the Boston College Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science (economics) degree from the London School of Economics.