Mary L. Smith

Mary Smith is an independent board member, former CEO of a $6 billion national healthcare organization and C-suite executive with 25+ years of business experience. Mary currently serves on the board of PTC Therapeutics, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company, and on the board of HAI Group, a leading member-owned insurance company for the affordable housing industry. She brings a breadth of experience in governance, technology, compliance, human resources, government affairs, accounting, audit oversight, and regulatory matters. Her industry experience includes financial services, insurance, and healthcare.

Mary is currently Vice Chair at the VENG Group where she consults on business development, strategy, healthcare, and corporate governance. After earning a degree in mathematics and computer science, Mary started her career in technology at Walgreens and Northern Trust. She previously served in a senior role at Tyco International, Inc., a $40 billion public company, where she managed one of the most high-profile corporate governance and accounting matters in the country.

Mary has served at the highest levels of government, both at the federal and state level. Until 2017, she was the CEO of the Indian Health Service. She has also served on the senior team of the Civil Division at the United States Department of Justice and as General Counsel at the Illinois Department of Insurance. Earlier in her career, Mary served in the Clinton White House as Associate Counsel to the President and Associate Director of Policy Planning in the Domestic Policy Council.

Mary is a NACD Board Leadership Fellow and a board member of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and the National Women’s History Museum.

Mary is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation and is President of the American Bar Association. She is also the Founder and Board Chair of the Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation, the only national organization that promotes Native American girls in the STEM fields. She is a long-time member and previous President and board member of the National Native American Bar Association.