Todd Smith is a veteran branding and communications executive, currently serving as Founder, President, and CEO of WordSmith Branding Agency, where he helps organizations define their voice, shape their narrative, and lead conversations in an increasingly complex communications environment.

Over more than 37 years in corporate communications, brand strategy, public relations, and executive advisory, Smith has led enterprise-wide rebranding initiatives, built and scaled high performing communications and creative teams, and served as a trusted advisor to CEOs and executive teams across healthcare, technology, telecom, financial services, legal, retail, and publishing.

As founder and CEO of WordSmith Branding Agency, the relaunch of the firm he previously built as Deane | Smith Agency, Smith leads executive branding, strategic communications, and public relations engagements for healthcare, technology, and professional services clients. As Chief Communications Officer of WastAway, he directed a full enterprise rebrand, including new visual identity, digital presence, advertising, and public relations, supporting the company's expansion into three new markets and its positioning as a leader in sustainable waste- to-fuel technology.

Earlier, as Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Deane | Smith Agency, he built and led a 34-person cross functional team, grew the firm into a Top 10 ranked agency in the Nashville and Southeast markets, and earned more than 25 industry awards over two decades. As Director of Corporate Communications for Affinion Group, formerly Cendant Marketing Services Group, Smith led the communications integration of three business units into a unified $1.5 billion global marketing organization, reporting directly to the CEO and serving on the executive committee.

His foundation in regulated, high stakes environments runs deep, spanning national healthcare communications and government relations campaigns reaching more than 130,000 employees at HCA Healthcare, along with crisis and issues management work across two decades of agency and in-house leadership.

What Smith brings to an organization: enterprise brand strategy, crisis and issues management, media relations, reputation management, executive and stakeholder communications and the ability to translate complex organizational strategy into clear executive messaging and integrated campaigns that support long term enterprise value.

Smith is a Baylor University journalism graduate, a former Washington Times staff writer, and a former speechwriter for the George H.W. Bush for President campaign, who still believes the best communications strategy starts with a well told, well researched story.

"Let's talk about how I can help your brand navigate its next chapter, whether that's growth, transformation, or a moment that calls for steady, experienced leadership." — Todd Smith