Robert C. Smith

Robert (Bob) C. Smith is Partner and the Market Leader of the Cleveland office of Cerity Partners. He serves on Cerity Partners' Executive Committee. Bob has more than forty years of experience in investing, finance, accounting, and business management. Bob joined Cerity Partners in October 2016 when Cerity Partners acquired Spero-Smith Investment Advisers. Previously, Bob was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spero-Smith, which he joined in 1993 as President, Chief Investment Officer, and co-owner with Founder, Karen Spero.

Bob has been appointed by a number of elected officials in Ohio to boards of public entities, including the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation and the Port of Cleveland. Recent public entity appointments include Chair of the Jobs Ohio Board and Board Chair of the Ohio Broadcast Educational Media Commission. He also serves as a board member for the Cleveland Ballet, and serves on the corporate board at Encova Insurance. Bob also volunteers his time to St. Ladislas Parish (Westlake).

He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting) degree from Ohio Northern University and holds a Master's of Business Administration (Finance) from Duquesne University. Ohio Northern University has awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration for his years of service as Chair of the Board of Trustees and other civic leadership roles.