Russ and Dawn Smyth

Russ Smyth is Chief Executive Office of The HA VI Group LP, a diversified holding company that owns and manages businesses across the supply chain, marketing and packaging industries, including HA VI Global Solutions, The Marketing Store and HA VI Logistics. Prior to joining HA VI in 2010, Russ was President and CEO of H&R Block, one of the world’s largest tax services providers. In this role, he was responsible for H&R Block’s tax preparation business, as well as the H&R Block Bank and RSM McGladrey. Prior to this, Russ spent more than 20 years at McDonalds Corporation, gaining extensive worldwide management experience in Latin America, Asia, the US and Europe. He last served as President of McDonald’s Europe, McDonald’s Corporation’s second largest area of the world. In this role, he was responsible for 6,200 restaurants in 51 countries, representing $6.7 billion in total revenues. Russ graduated from NIU with his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1978 and his master’s in accounting science degree in 1980. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees for Lewis University in Romeoville, IL. He and his wife Dawn live in Chicago with their four children.