R. Adam Smith
Founder & CEO

R. Adam Smith has 15 years experience in private equity and mergers & acquisitions at leading institutions. Prior to founding Circle Peak Capital, Mr. Smith was in the Financial Sponsors Group at Lehman Brothers where he advised on financial and strategic issues for leading consumer, financial services, and industrial middle market corporations and private equity firms.

Prior to Lehman Brothers, Mr. Smith served in principal capacities at two leading private equity firms based in New York City, Caxton-Iseman Capital LLC and Castle Harlan, Inc., each with over $2 billion in managed equity capital. At these firms, he worked directly with senior management teams and institutional co-investors in the acquisition and growth of $25 million to $1 billion food, beverage, restaurant, industrial, aerospace and asset management firms. Mr. Smith has been involved in control-stake private investments collectively representing approximately $1.5 billion in sales, $200 million in EBITDA, and $350 million in equity commitments.

Prior to Columbia Business School, Mr. Smith was also employed by Columbus Advisors, then a leading emerging markets hedge fund, and began his career in the global financial institutions practice at Salomon Brothers Inc.

Mr. Smith earned an MBA with honors from the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University and a BA cum laude in International Relations and Economics from Boston University. Mr. Smith is an active alumnus of Columbia Business School and is a founding board member of the School's Private Equity Advisory Board. Mr. Smith is an advisor and board member to several private businesses, including Rocket Dog Holdings LLC, Fischbein LLC, WealthTrust LLC, Luxury Optical Holdings LLC, Shari's Management Corp., and Hill & Valley Inc. Mr. Smith is married with one child and lives in New York City.