About Brad D. Smith
Brad D. Smith is the President of Marshall University and a former Silicon Valley CEO who often introduces himself as “simply Brad from Kenova.” Despite his humble nature, he has an impressive story to tell — his hometown may be small, but his endeavors are certainly not.
After receiving an education at Marshall University and later Aquinas College, Brad hit the ground running. His career journey brought him to a number of major businesses as he went on to hold leadership positions at PepsiCo, Brooks Beverage Management, Inc., and Advo Inc. before becoming the Senior Vice President at ADP. This was all prior to him joining the business venture he has become most well known for: Intuit, Inc. Brad began his tenure at Intuit as the Vice President & General Manager of Intuit Accountant Central & Developer Network, eventually working his way to CEO and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2008.
Brad largely left the corporate world in 2018, although he maintained his position as Intuit’s Executive Chairman until January 18, 2022. In 2019, his focus turned to philanthropy. Alongside his wife, Alys Smith, Brad knew he wanted to do more to give back to his home state. From their joint passion for the cause, the Wing 2 Wing Foundation was born.
Through Wing 2 Wing, Brad and Alys are currently seeking to advance education, entrepreneurship and environment in communities that have been traditionally overlooked. The Smiths have made contributions to various organizations and educational institutions throughout the years — continuously seeking ways to give back to Appalachia. In 2021, Brad and Alys made a transformational donation to West Virginia University that assisted with the creation of the Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative and, subsequently, the Ascend West Virginia program and its mission to draw remote workers to the state.
Outside of his role at Wing 2 Wing, Brad has also been working to achieve his goals and bring his vision for the state to life through his leadership at Marshall University, where he serves as President. In September 2022, he was elected to Humana Inc.’s Board of Directors. The following year, he joined Amazon’s Board of Directors as a member of the Audit Committee. In 2025, Brad expanded his leadership roles by joining the Board of Directors for JPMorgan Chase. He also serves as a Board Advisor for DignifiHealth and co-chairs the Southern Regional Educational Board’s Commission on AI in Education.
To stay informed on Brad and his work, be sure to follow and connect with him on social media. Connect with Brad on LinkedIn, follow him on Facebook, read about his philanthropic activities and work in academia on Substack and watch his latest appearances on YouTube.