Erik Henry Smetana

Erik Henry Smetana serves as a Managing Director with Gallagher's Human Resources and Compensation Consulting practice. In this role, Erik provides high-quality consulting services by leading projects specific to client needs and managing relationships between Gallagher experts and clients.

Erik's 20-plus year work history has led him to serve in a variety of diverse roles across human resource management, particularly in compensation and benefits, talent management and organizational development, people analytics, and employee relations and policy development. Erik has extensive experience in both private and public sectors, working with an eclectic mix of dynamic organizations including Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries, international not-for-profit organizations, membership associations, media outlets (including NPR and NBC affiliates), institutions of higher education and research, and others. Before joining Gallagher, he served as the enterprise-wide deputy chief human resources officer with the University of Missouri System and for Vanderbilt University as the executive director of People and Engagement, leading, designing and implementing compensation and people-focused programs and initiatives.

Erik has a bachelor's degree in psychology, a Master of Business Administration and master's degree in Writing. He has previously earned professional certifications with the Human Resources Certification Institute (SPHR), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP) and the Human Capital Institute (Strategic Workforce Planner and Human Capital Strategist).