Richard Smith, CEO of Equifax resigns after massive hacking

Richard Smith, the chief executive officer at Equifax has tendered his resignation in the wake of the hacking scandal that endangered the company’s 140 million customers.

Richard Smith said in a statement that “At this critical juncture, I believe it is in the best interests of the company to have new leadership to move the company forward”.

Mr. Richard F. Smith, also known as Rick, has been the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer at Equifax Inc. since December 15, 2005. Mr. Smith served as the Chief Operating Officer of GE Insurance Solutions since 2004. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Property and Casualty Reinsurance from 2003 to 2004.

He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Property and Casualty Reinsurance-Americas of GE Global Insurance Holdings Corp. from 2001 to 2003. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Capital Fleet Services from 1995 to 2000.

He served various other executive positions with General Electric Corporation. He joined Equifax in September 2005 after more than two decades with General Electric Co. He held several Chief Executive Officer, president and Chief Operating Officer positions with GE, where he was appointed a Corporate Officer in 1999. In his last position with GE, Mr. Smith served as the Chief Operating Officer of GE Insurance Solutions, where he led all GE Insurance operating business units. His career at GE also included leadership roles as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Asset Management Division, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Leasing Division and numerous leadership positions in the Engineering Thermoplastic Division.

In his last position with GE, Mr. Smith served as the Chief Operating Officer of GE Insurance Solutions, where he led all GE Insurance operating business units. His career at GE also included leadership roles as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Asset Management Division, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Leasing Division and numerous leadership positions in the Engineering Thermoplastic Division.

He serves as a Member of Advisory Board at DocuSign, Inc. Mr. Smith has been a Director of Equifax Inc. since September 22, 2005. In May 2010, Mr. Smith was inducted into Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College ‘Business Hall of Fame.’ He was the 2009 Chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and serves on its Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He is the 2013 Chairman of the Atlanta Committee for Progress Board and also serves on the board of directors for the Commerce Club. Additionally, he is Chairman of The Lovett School Governance Committee in Atlanta and serves on its Board of Trustees.

He serves as Director of Operation HOPE National Board and is a Trustee for The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. He is a former Director of the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta, a former Trustee for the Woodruff Arts Center and Former Chairman of The Lovett School’s Strategic Planning Committee. Mr. Smith holds BS degree in 1981 from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.