Roshan Jayawardena

Roshan Jayawardena (Rosh) is the Managing Director for Elliott Scott HR in North America, partnering with senior HR leaders to build high-impact leadership teams across financial services, professional services, and complex global organizations.

With over 15 years of experience spanning HR leadership and executive search, Roshan is known for his strategic, insight-led approach to senior hiring. He works as a true search partner, helping organizations define what success looks like 12–24 months into a role, clarify trade-offs, and access leadership talent that aligns with both business strategy and organizational context.

Roshan specializes in retained executive search for senior HR appointments, including HR Directors, Heads of HR, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Learning & Development, DEI, and Organizational Change leaders. His earlier experience as an HR Business Partner at General Electric gives him a rare operator’s perspective, allowing him to advise clients not just on who to hire, but how HR teams think, operate, and scale.

Since establishing and leading Elliott Scott HR’s North American business in 2015, Roshan has built a strong regional and global network and is widely regarded for his market intelligence, relationship-driven style, and ability to engage high-calibre, often passive, HR leaders. He is a frequent contributor to HR thought leadership and has been featured in Forbes for his insights on DEI and modern talent strategies.

Having led Elliott Scott’s North American business since 2015, Roshan combines global perspective with a strong regional network. Known for his strategic insight, fast-paced approach, and commitment to excellence, he focuses on delivering exceptional outcomes and fostering long-term relationships with both clients and candidates. Rosh has also been featured in 2 Forbes articles for his business acumen. Read the articles below: 

14 tips from HR experts for successful diversity, equity and inclusion 

Looking for passive candidates? Try these 15 practical, cost-efficient strategies