About Rod Smyth

Rod is an Irishman with 18 years of Global Investment experience. He has lived and worked in the securities industry in each of Asia, Europe and North America. Trained in Japan by Nomura Securities in 1983, he worked as an Asian specialist for Citicorp on Wall Street from 1985-1988. From 88-93 he returned home to Ireland where he was a portfolio manager for a local bank, managing portfolios in the Asian, US, and Latin American markets. In 1993 Rod returned to Asia as the Investment Strategist for Baring Securities in Tokyo.

For the last 4 years Rod has been with Wheat First and First Union in Richmond, Virginia, initially as the Managing Director of Mentor Perpetual Advisors and most recently as the Chief Investment Officer for Evergreen’s Richmond platform.

In July 2000 Rod was asked to take on the role of Global Investment Strategist for First Union Securities following the retirement of Rao Chalasani. Rod has an MA in Economics from Dundee University in Scotland.