Richard H. Smith

Richard Smith has extensive experience in the insurance and investment industries spanning several decades. Currently, Richard serves as Chairman of WestCongress Insurance Services LLC since 2015 and as Founding Member, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of The Fortuity Group, LLC, a private investment firm established in 2014 with a focus on early-stage companies and real estate, particularly in the City of Detroit. Previously, Richard held the roles of President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Directors at First Mercury Financial Corporation from 1996 to 2014, overseeing its acquisition by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. Earlier in Richard's career, positions included Senior Vice President at Providian Corporation, where Richard transitioned from Chief Financial Officer of Providian Direct Insurance to President and Chief Operating Officer of Providian Direct Auto Insurance. Richard holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Accounting from the University of Arkansas and a Master's degree in Business Administration, Management and Operations from the University of Louisville.