Rod “RJ” Swartwood is a seasoned human capital advisor and organizational architect with 25 years of experience driving talent initiatives that boost business growth, culture, and performance. His background spans corporate HR leadership, private equity advisory, and entrepreneurship, providing a broad perspective on aligning people and business strategies.

Grounded in industrial and organizational psychology and shaped by executive roles, RJ has consulted across industries including technology, life sciences, consumer products, financial services, engineering, and manufacturing. He excels at guiding CEOs and executive teams through critical transitions such as scaling founder-led businesses, integrating leadership after M&A, and repositioning cultures.

RJ’s expertise covers talent acquisition and retention, leadership development, succession planning, organizational design, and large-scale HR system implementation. He consistently develops talent strategies that support sustainable growth for Fortune 500, middle-market, and private equity-backed firms.

As Managing Director at Everest Advisors, RJ helps organizations navigate rapid change by combining data-driven assessments, strategic insight, and practical experience. He designs future-ready organizational models, builds succession strategies, and drives Everest’s proprietary executive alignment and M&A due diligence approaches.

Previously, RJ founded HR Prime, advising more than two dozen clients in life sciences, technology, medical devices, and professional services to modernize talent and organizational design for measurable impact. He also held senior HR leadership roles at First American Corporation, Upper Deck, Provide Commerce, and Profit Recovery Partners, where he developed talent platforms, cut recruitment costs, and supported growth through IPOs and acquisitions.

RJ holds an MBA from California State University, San Marcos, an MA from Murdoch University, and a BA in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from San Diego State University. He is also a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certified