Padilla Welcomes Financial Services Practice Lead

MINNEAPOLIS Nov. 11, 2024 – Ryan Smartt has joined Padilla as vice president of Financial Services. Based in Richmond, Va., he will be responsible for serving and growing the firm’s diverse financial services portfolio. In addition, he will be part of the leadership team within the agency’s Corporate Advisory Group, which specializes in financial communications, employee engagement, crisis and issues management, community/social impact communications strategy and executive leadership coaching.

Smartt comes to Padilla following a distinguished tenure at DuPont, where he most recently served as head of communications for the company’s Water & Protection operations. During the pandemic, he successfully navigated ongoing challenges and led communication strategies directed at more than 8,000 employees, maintaining workforce engagement, morale and alignment with company core values.

“Ryan’s diverse experience will be invaluable to financial services and corporate communications clients who come to Padilla with the need for transformation,” said Matt Kucharski, president of Padilla. “He has the right background, core skill sets, and personality to be a great long-term leader at our firm.”

Prior to DuPont, Smartt served as senior communications manager at Capital One, where he spearheaded HR communications for more than 46,000 associates, as well as raised awareness of Capital One’s community involvement strategy and corporate social responsibility efforts. He also previously served as a communications manager for Genworth Financial.

“I am thoroughly impressed by Padilla’s strategic vision and collaborative approach to integrated communications,” Smartt said. “I’ll be working alongside some extremely talented corporate communications professionals and I’m eager to see what innovative solutions we can develop together. This next chapter of my career holds great promise, and I can’t wait to dive in and contribute to Padilla’s continued success.”