Richard Smith

Richard Smith, PhD, is an experienced finance professional currently serving as the Director of Private Markets at BlackRock since September 2018, focusing on capital solutions in private debt, real estate, and infrastructure. Prior roles at BlackRock include Vice President in Alternatives and Associate within Alternative Investors, where Richard specialized in sourcing and executing private and alternative investments. Richard's early career featured a background in engineering as a PhD Research Engineer at Rolls-Royce, alongside experience as a professional rugby player for Cardiff Rugby and the Scarlets. Educational qualifications include a PhD in Aerospace Materials Science and Engineering from Swansea University and a Financial Modelling and Valuation Analyst certification from the Corporate Finance Institute.