Terry C. Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of Tullett Prebon Group Holdings plc (formerly Collins Stewart Tullett PLC) and Tullett Prebon PLC. The son of an East End bus driver, Terry Smith is well known in the City as the combative chief executive of the Collins Stewart Tullett stockbroking operation a leading independent investment bank. Terry Smith graduated in History from University College Cardiff in 1974.He obtained an MBA at The Management College, Henley in 1979.A boxing aficionado, Smith first came to prominence as a City analyst for his controversial 1992 book Accounting for Growth, which revealed many of the tricks and dodges that companies use to massage their figures.

Smith, who lives in Chelmsford,ssex, led a £122m management buyout of Collins Stewart in May 2000. Floated 0n the stock market shortly afterwards, the company has grown rapidly since via a series of takeovers and by moving into new markets.It also became a takeover target itself, with rumours of interest from several private-equity firms – including leading US outfit Kohlberg Kravis Roberts – pushing the share price to well over £6. But later all talks were called to a halt, apparently because agreement could not be reached over a valuation for the firm. Smith is now said to be looking at alternative ways of delivering value to shareholders.

Journey of Terry Smith:

  • Terry Smith worked for Barclays Bank from 1974 to 1983 and became an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in 1976.
  • From 1984 to 1989 Smith served as a Stockbroker of W Greenwell & Co and was the top rated Bank Analyst in London.
  • During this period he also worked at BZW and James Cape.
  • In 1990, Mr. Smith … became Head of UK Company Research of UBS Phillips & Drew, a position he left in 1992 following the publication of his best selling book Accounting for Growth.
  • He is also working as a Director of Tullett Prebon Plc and a Non-Executive Director of William Cook Holdings Limited.
  • In 2003 Collins Stewart acquired Tullett Liberty, the world’s second largest inter-dealer broker and followed this in 2004 with the acquisition of Prebon Group. Collins Stewart and Tullett Prebon were demerged in 2006.