Walker & Dunlop Inc. (NYSE:WD), the Bethesda, Maryland-headquartered commercial real estate finance and advisory firm, announced that Howard W. Smith III will retire as president and a member of the board of directors on Jan.1, 2024.
Upon his retirement, Smith’s primary duties and responsibilities will be assumed by Donald P. King III, executive vice president and Kris Mikkelsen, executive vice president, investment sales who will co-lead the company’s capital markets group.
Smith joined the company’s management team in 1988 and took on the role of executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2004, when he also assumed the role of board member. He was promoted to president of the company in 2015.
“I want to thank the Walker family for giving me the opportunity 43 years ago to join Walker & Dunlop where I spent my entire career,” Smith said. “I am honored to have been able to contribute to the company’s incredible growth during that time. I leave behind an outstanding management team of great friends that will continue to grow W&D while maintaining the unique culture that defines this company.”
“Howard has been an exceptional partner in growing Walker & Dunlop from a small, family-owned company in 1980 to the 6th largest lender to commercial real estate in the United States in 2022,” said Willy Walker, chairman and CEO. “Howard’s contributions throughout his career to our industry, our company, and the Greater Washington community are numerous and profound. And while Howard will be dearly missed, his greatest legacy is the exceptional group of executives and managers at Walker & Dunlop that he so skillfully mentored and developed.”
