Smith Hanley Associates

Tom, President and CEO, co-founded Smith Hanley in 1980 with a fellow graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  He has overseen the firm's growth to 100 employees in five offices and their work with many of the top corporations and financial institutions in the United States. He graduated cum laude with a JD in 1983 from the New York Law School. Tom looks forward to the continued success of Smith Hanley and his role in providing great companies with great candidates. 

Richard Wastrom is a founding partner of Smith Hanley Associates and is the co-manager of the Financial Strategies Group (FSG). He directs searches in both the Institutional Investment and the Alternative Investment Management communities. His work encompasses a broad range of directives including chief investment officers, chief financial officers, chief technology officers, as well as roles within single and multi-family offices. Additional mandates involve investment research strategists, risk managers, and quantitative portfolio managers. Mr. Wastrom’s depth of experience and long-term relationships in the dynamic financial markets field have yielded proven expertise, respect and success (as noted by Emanuel Derman in his memoir, My Life As A Quant). He received his BA in Business Administration from the University of Vermont. 

A partner at Smith Hanley Associates, Jud has been with the firm since 1995. Having more Than 25 years of experience in the field of portfolio management, quantitative research and technology recruitment for the financial industry, he fulfills both contingent and retained searches. Jud has worked in all facets of quantitative research and trading recruitment from individual portfolio managers to the establishment of several systematic global hedge funds managing billions in client capital. He has also filled a plethora of quantitative and technical roles. From the chief technology officer of a $10BB hedge fund, to the lead developers and quantitative analysts of countless trading desks at the world’s leading investment banks and hedge funds, Jud’s vast network of connections offers both clients and applicants an experienced and informed resource in the global market. A 1993 graduate of Hobart College, Jud has a Bachelor of Science in political science. 

David is a Principal Partner in the Financial Strategies Group at Smith Hanley Associates LLC. specializing in the field of technology, quantitative research and trading. David’s understanding of the financial services industry enables him to identify and communicate with top information technology and quantitative research professionals with a proven record of impactful performance. David’s client portfolio focuses on technology and quantitative research within hedge funds, investment management, and investment banking. He has fulfilled successful searches for partner-level, C-level, managing directors, portfolio managers, group heads, and other essential leadership positions responsible for major strategic initiatives focused on information technology, quantitative research and trading. David is a graduate of The University of Maryland, College Park, MD with a degree in Marketing. 

Eda joined Smith Hanley in 2000 and recruits commercial analytic professionals in the pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences, and healthcare industries. She is focused on placing data science, marketing science, sales analytics, forecasting and data management specialists. “Eda has a tremendous understanding of our hiring needs, she not only understands the job requirements – but the ‘soft skills’ as they are just as important. It is a real partnership. She has placed most our group here, Eda is the BEST of the BEST!!” 

Before joining Smith Hanley, Eda spent more than twenty years in the nonprofit sector with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) as a tri-state sales and marketing professional. She holds a BA in Sociology from Rosemont College. 

Deirdre Kiniry is a Managing Director and has been with Smith Hanley Associates since 2000. Deirdre has over 30 years of recruitment experience covering a diverse range of searches in the financial services sector for institutional asset managers, investment banks and hedge funds. She has completed senior-level marketing and business development searches for several alternative asset management clients. Other successful mandates have included sector-specific portfolio managers and analysts. Deirdre is a graduate of the University of Connecticut. 

Since 2005, Nancy has served as Executive Recruiter of Data Science and Analytics at Smith Hanley, partnering with clients in the Midwest, Mountain and South regions. “Through the years, it’s been gratifying to get repeat business as a trusted recruiter and also to cultivate new clients as well. I know that when employers contact me, they are looking for expertise in this niche space.” 

Prior to joining Smith Hanley, Nancy had 20+ years of industry experience at a transportation company and at General Electric. Nancy holds a BA in History from Northwestern and an MBA from Loyola University of Chicago. 

Nihar specializes in the clinical domain and works across biostatistics, clinical trials/research, data management, health economics/RWE, medical affairs, statistical programming, and other R&D areas within pharma and biotech. He has more than ten years of recruiting experience and attributes his success to the ability to build good relationships, listen attentively, be proactive, continuously self-improve, and show empathy. Nihar plans to carry Smith Hanley’s stellar reputation in the pharma business for many years to come. Outside of work, Nihar likes to spend his time following Chicago sports, travel, podcasts, yoga, golf, and investing. 

Paul Chatlos joined Smith Hanley in 2013. He is currently the Data Science and Analytics Practice Lead for the East and West Coasts and a Principal of the company. Prior to joining Smith Hanley, he recruited marketing professionals in the pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology industries and also worked in Physician Recruitment. He prides himself on building excellent relationships with both clients and candidates in order to best address their hiring needs and career goals. He also believes that recruiting is finding the best “match” of candidate and opportunity. 

He holds a BS in Psychology from James Madison University. Outside of work, Paul enjoys playing golf regularly and is an avid sports fan. 

Lindsey Bartlett leads the Market Research & Consumer Insights area. With a decade of experience recruiting in this niche, Lindsey has proven successful in making the match. Her highly consultative nature combined with her dedication to excellence pushes her to swiftly and successfully find you the best talent. Lindsey is a strong recruiter and highly personable, staying abreast of new industry trends by attending a variety of conferences and participating with our affiliations. Offer her an oat milk latte and a good conversation and she’ll always be in your corner. 

BioPharma sales and marketing executive recruiter and principal at Smith Hanley Associates specializing in confidential and executive level searches, combining a "white glove" recruiting service with an HR business partner background and over 15 years work experience in the biopharma industry. Specializing in placing sales and marketing leaders, building out mid to start-up biopharma salesforces, the placement of C-level leaders all predominantly in oncology, immunology, rare and orphan diseases, hospital, institutional and specialty areas. 

After finishing his MBA at the John Welch College of Business, Rory joined Smith Hanley in 2015 to recruit in the actuarial and analytics space. He specializes in the placement of actuaries and statistical analytics candidates nationwide. 

Rory has over 15 years business experience in both recruiting and operations providing him the tools necessary to assist both clients and candidates. In his spare time Rory enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and fishing. 

Rory O’Neill is a Director at Smith Hanley Associates within the Financial Strategies Group. She focuses on asset management and hedge fund clients across all strategies, with particular expertise in fundamental long/short equities. Rory brings more than twenty years of experience in finance to Smith Hanley. Prior to joining Smith Hanley, she worked at SAC (now Point72) in equities management as the Director of Broker Relations, at Lehman Brothers for eight years in equity research and equity sales marketing, and at Intel Corporation’s treasury department. Rory holds an MBA with concentrations in finance and accounting from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. 

Daniel Wilberschied is an Executive Recruiter dedicated to the industry of Market Research and Consumer Insights. His commitment to partnership in the recruitment relationship allows him to be a true consultant across both client and candidate. Daniel has successfully partnered with both niche research companies and fortune 500 corporations, all through transparent communication and industry expertise. Outside of work Daniel loves spending time with his family and playing music. 

Pierson is an Executive Recruiter on the Market Research and Consumer Insights team. While the newest on the team, Pierson is already a step above the rest in his deep understanding of the Market Research Industry and has been highly successful in finding clients their ideal match. With his warm personality and drive to provide results, he is highly sought after in the market research space. Pierson’s best skill is his ability to connect with all, no matter the differences; he loves a good conversation! Pierson spends his free time coaching basketball, designing clothes, and hanging with his German Shepherd. 

Talia Fleischmann is an Executive Recruiter at Smith Hanley Associates, working as a part of the Financial Strategies Group.  Starting in June of 2022, Talia has focused on placing programmers and quantitative analysts within the financial services industry.  She speaks three languages: Mandarin, Czech, and English and has a BS in Education and Chinese from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.