White Oak Commercial Finance hired Mark Allen Smith as managing director of originations with responsibilities spanning the Midwest, the central United States and Canada. He will be based in Chicago and report to Andy McGhee, vice chairman of White Oak Commercial Finance.

Smith has nearly 30 years of financial services experience, with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital advisory and restructuring and special situations across an array of industries. Before joining White Oak, he was a founder and managing partner at Sentinel Capital Advisors, served as a managing director for Hilco Global and was the head of metals for Houlihan Lokey. In addition, Smith served as a managing director for FTI Consulting, was the head of metals for HSBC Securities Americas and was a managing director at ABN AMRO, managing the company’s North American metals investment banking team.

“Mark is regarded as both a highly effective business executive and skilled advisor to the businesses he serves,” McGhee said. “He has managed a number of complex transactions and his experience in M&A, the structuring and raising of capital and special situations provides him with a unique perspective that will benefit White Oak and its clients.”