Damian Smith

Biography

Damian Smith is an accomplished leadership and team coach with over 25 years of global success working with brands like Blackberry, Vodafone, Virgin, and Sony. As a former regional CFO overseeing a billion-dollar turnover—and uniquely for a finance professional—leading large sales teams and heading up regional marketing, Damian reversed declining sales trends across half a continent, bringing a rare and multi-faceted perspective to his work.

His journey from a stressed, defensive workaholic to a balanced, impactful leader drives his passion for guiding emerging leaders, fostering authentic leadership, and building courageous team cultures.

Damian has coached C-level leaders and their teams at an impressive array of organizations. He was worked with the BBC, AstraZeneca, Adidas, SAP, Starbucks, DuPont, Merck, Talabat, G42, and various government ministries. He has often facilitated programs with participants from over 20 nationalities and coached senior leaders across six continents.

Based in Dubai, Damian focuses on helping CEOs achieve results through attracting, retaining, top talent by creating thriving, aligned, humane team cultures. He is currently writing a book on this subject.

Recognized as a world-class finance business partner, Damian’s rare blend of finance and sales expertise has led him to train hundreds of finance leaders in influence within some of the world’s largest multinational corporations. He is the Middle East & Africa partner for leadership training at ICAEW and leads a global finance development community of 100,000 CFOs and senior leaders.

Damian’s work with Oxford University’s Saïd Business School further solidifies his standing as a trusted expert in leadership development.

Niche Areas of Expertise

• C-Suite
• Digital Leadership
• Leaders in Transition
• Team Effectiveness
• Women & Leadership

Languages

• English