Managing Partner

Rob Smith

rsmith@castaneapartners.com
(617) 630-2410

I co-founded Castanea Partners in 2001. It has been a fun and entrepreneurial venture from the start.

Prior to Castanea, I was Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Neiman Marcus Group Inc., where at various times I also held the positions of Co-CEO and of President and Chief Operating Officer. While at Neiman Marcus, I served on the National Retail Federation Board. Additionally, I was Co-CEO of Harcourt General and a director of that company from 1989 to 2001. At Harcourt General, I held several management roles, including President and co-Chief Operating Officer. While at Harcourt General, I was also President of General Cinema Companies. Before joining General Cinema Corporation (predecessor to Harcourt General), I was an associate consultant at Bain & Company.

I received my AB from Harvard College and my MBA from Harvard University.

I am Co-Chairman of the Board of the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation and currently serve as Chairman of the Board of the Pan-Mass Challenge, and as a member of the Boards of Directors of the Boston Children’s Hospital, Facing History & Ourselves, and the Harvard Committee on University Resources. I previously served on the Board of Jumpstart and the Institute of Contemporary Art, and as Vice Chairman of the Board of Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School.

I was born and raised in Boston and continue to live here with my wife and children. I’m an avid professional sports fan and outdoor enthusiast, and love big mountain and back-country skiing, road cycling, mountain biking, hiking, tennis, squash, and now fly fishing.

Investments

4moms develops and markets innovative baby gear that leverages design and technology to help make parenting a little bit easier with products like the mamaRoo® infant seat and the breeze® playard.

Learn More

Simms Fishing Products manufactures premium waders, outerwear, sportswear, and other technical fishing apparel and accessories.

Learn More
Back to Team

News