Hanneke Smits

Educational Background

Hanneke Smits is a seasoned professional with over three decades of experience in the financial and investment sectors. Her journey began with a strong educational foundation, holding an MBA in Business Administration and Management from London Business School, which she completed in 1992. Before that, she immersed herself in Mandarin studies at the Taipei Language Institute and earned a BBA from Nyenrode Business University. Her early academic years were spent at Stedelijk Gymnasium Utrecht.

Early Career

Starting her career as an intern at Orange Nassau Asia/ChinaVest, followed by a management trainee role at Philips China Hong Kong Group, Smits quickly built a diverse and international early career. She then moved to Pantheon Ventures as an Investment Manager, sharpening her financial and investment expertise over a five-year stint.

Adams Street Partners

Smits's career took a significant step forward when she joined Adams Street Partners in 1997, where she would stay for 17 years. Her roles at Adams Street included Chief Investment Officer and Head of various departments, working her way up through increasing layers of responsibility and influence.

Commitment to Gender Diversity

In 2015, she co-founded Level20, a non-profit organization designed to promote more women in the European private equity industry, demonstrating her commitment to gender diversity early on. She also served as Non-Executive Director at Sofina and then at Newton Investment Management, where she was CEO from 2016 to 2020.

Later Career and Leadership Roles

Following her time at Newton, Smits took on roles as a Non-Executive Director at the Bank of England and a Board Member at The Investment Association. She further solidified her reputation as a leading figure in finance and investment by becoming a trustee and later Chair of the Board of Trustees at Impetus.

Current Roles

Currently, she serves as the Global Chair at the 30% Club, a campaign pushing for increased gender diversity in senior management and boardrooms worldwide. She is also the Global Head of BNY Investments at BNY Mellon since October 2020, signifying her ongoing influence in major financial institutions.

Key Skills

Smits's key skills include corporate finance, venture capital, restructuring, financial modeling, and private equity, among others. Her illustrious career is marked by leadership roles at top institutions, a strong educational background, and a deep commitment to gender diversity and social initiatives. Through her various influential positions, Hanneke Smits has significantly impacted the financial and investment sectors while championing inclusive workplace practices.