Christopher A. Smith

Christopher A. Smith is a visionary leader with more than two decades of experience in business development, product strategy, and global revenue initiatives within the realms of digital media and emerging technologies such as cybersecurity, digital identity, privacy, and Web3.

Chris played a pivotal role at Adap.tv, shaping one of the early video exchanges and SSPs as the 10th employee. He further solidified his reputation at Collective (Audience Network) and Turn (DSP/DMP) by driving significant revenue growth and spearheading innovative programmatic TV and digital advertising solutions.

In 2015, Chris delved into entrepreneurship with Stitch Video, which was later successfully acquired. This venture enhanced video content delivery, streaming, and monetization in emerging markets. Continuing his entrepreneurial journey, Chris founded DFend in 2022, a state-of-the-art digital identity security platform.

An esteemed expert on cybercrime and digital privacy, Chris penned 'Privacy Pandemic,' a pivotal exploration of digital security challenges. The book was acclaimed by FOREWORD REVIEWS, being nominated as a finalist and winner for the 2023 'Book of the Year.'

Chris advocates for digital privacy and secure digital identities, being an active member of the Web3 ID Coalition, championing safe and trustworthy digital identities. He was also honored with a spot on Cybersecurity Ventures' inaugural list of Cybersecurity Pundits, focusing on Identity Theft.

Throughout his career, Chris has demonstrated a profound dedication to advancing advertising technology and safeguarding digital landscapes against evolving threats.