Robert Smith is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Castanea Partners, a middle market private equity firm based in Newton, Massachusetts.

Prior to co-founding Castanea in 2001, Mr. Smith was co-CEO of Harcourt General from 1999 until its sale in 2001, and was a director of the company

from 1989 to 2001. He was also formerly Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Neiman Marcus Group Inc., where he was co-CEO from

1999 to 2001 and had been a member of the Board of Directors since 1997. Mr. Smith serves on several non-profit Boards, including the Boston Children's Hospital, Facing History and Ourselves,

and the Harvard Committee on University Resources. Mr. Smith received his AB from Harvard College

and his MBA from Harvard Business School.