President, The Asia Foundation (1962-1963) Executive Vice-President, Bank of America, San Francisco
Russell Gordon Smith, founding member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees (1954-1990), was Executive Vice President in Charge of International Banking at Bank of America, the world’s largest private bank, and one of the best known American bankers in Asia and Europe given his periodic trips to the several international branches Bank of America maintained. His services have been honored by the governments of Italy and Sweden, which bestowed on him the Star of Italian Solidarity and the Grand Ufficiale, Kingdom of Italy, and the Order of Vasa.
Mr. Smith was a staunch advocate of Asian-American business and influential in the expansion of Bank of America’s branches in Asia. In addition, he served as a Director of the National Foreign Trade Council Inc.; a Trustee of the U.S. Council, International Chamber of Commerce; a member of the American Bankers Association, and a past President of that association’s National Bank Division; a Director and past Vice President of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce; a Vice President and Trustee of the World Affairs Council of Northern California; and a Director of the Japan Society of San Francisco.