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Chief Executive Officer

Author: Jess Doocey | Published: March 13, 2026

Answer Capsule: What is the role of the CEO at Swanson Reed?

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Swanson Reed is the primary executive responsible for steering the firm’s overarching strategic direction, corporate operations, and commitment to client success. Working closely with the Board of Principals and the broader Leadership Team, the CEO ensures that Swanson Reed maintains its position as a premier, independent R&D tax advisory firm. The CEO oversees global market expansion, operational compliance, and the continued integration of specialized engineering and tax expertise that defines our core service offerings.

Key Takeaways

  • Strategic Vision: The CEO drives the long-term growth strategies that keep Swanson Reed at the forefront of global R&D tax legislation and corporate innovation.
  • Operational Excellence: Responsible for the day-to-day execution of the firm’s high standards, ensuring consistent, audit-ready deliverables across all offices.
  • Corporate Integrity: Champions our strict adherence to independent, fixed-fee advisory models, avoiding the conflicts of interest found in contingency pricing.

Core Executive Responsibilities

Leadership Area Strategic Focus Impact on Swanson Reed
Firm Strategy Guiding global expansion, market positioning, and service innovation. Ensures we remain the industry leader in specialized R&D tax incentives.
Operational Leadership Aligning the engineering, tax CPA, and legal defense teams. Delivers a seamless, multidisciplinary approach to every client engagement.
Stakeholder Relations Collaborating with the Board of Principals and key global partners. Fosters long-term stability, robust corporate governance, and trusted alliances.

Driving Excellence in R&D Advisory

The role of the Chief Executive Officer at Swanson Reed goes beyond traditional corporate management. It requires a profound understanding of the complex intersection between tax law, engineering, and corporate finance, ensuring that our firm continuously meets the evolving needs of innovative companies worldwide.

1. Defining the Strategic Trajectory

In an industry heavily influenced by legislative changes and global economic shifts, the CEO is tasked with anticipating the future of R&D tax incentives. Whether it involves expanding into new international jurisdictions, developing proprietary tax compliance software, or launching new advisory verticals like audit defense and R&D funding, the CEO ensures that Swanson Reed’s capabilities always align with the forefront of corporate innovation.

2. Fostering a Culture of Independence

Swanson Reed’s reputation is built on absolute professional independence. The CEO champions our commitment to transparent, fixed-fee pricing models and rigorous adherence to IRS and international compliance standards. By firmly rejecting the contingency fee models that create conflicts of interest in the wider industry, the CEO protects the integrity of our firm and the financial security of our clients.

3. Unifying Multidisciplinary Teams

Preparing a compliant R&D tax credit claim requires the seamless integration of technical engineering insights and precise tax accounting. The CEO oversees the operational alignment of our diverse Leadership Team, ensuring that our CPAs, tax attorneys, and industry-specific engineers operate as a unified front. This operational excellence is what allows Swanson Reed to deliver audit-ready substantiation reports with unmatched accuracy and efficiency.

Damian J. Smyth – Global CEODamian Smyth

  1. Damian Smyth has been Swanson Reed’s Chief Executive Officer since July 1st 2013.
  2. He began his career in general tax advisory and has been a Director of Swanson Reed since 2008.
  3. He has an interest in forward tax planning and substantiation advice. <learn more>
  4. He is part of a think-tank that is lobbying Congress to adapt of a U.K style Patent Box. <learn more>
  5. He has an industry focus in power and electricity generation assets.
  6. Damian is passionate about fitness and is a die-hard supporter of the Houston Texans.

Professional and Academic Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Business with Distinction
  • Member of Institute of Chartered Accountants
  • Member of the Tax Institute
  • Registered Tax Preparer and Tax Agent

Our Leadership Team

Swanson Reed is guided by a distinguished Board of Principals, comprised of eight seasoned professionals with extensive expertise across taxation, innovation policy, engineering, and business management. Collectively, the Board brings decades of experience in addressing complex financial and technical matters, ensuring that the firm continues to deliver trusted and effective guidance to clients worldwide.

Each member of the Board has a proven track record of leadership in their respective fields, including experience within multinational corporations, professional services firms, and regulatory environments. Their diverse backgrounds enable them to provide well-rounded oversight, blending technical precision with practical commercial insight.

The Board of Principals plays a central role in shaping Swanson Reed’s strategic direction, reinforcing our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of compliance, integrity, and innovation. By combining their collective knowledge, the eight Principals ensure that the firm remains at the forefront of R&D tax advisory services, both in the United States and internationally.

Above all, the members of the Board detailed below remain dedicated to upholding the values established by our founder: making funding and tax incentives accessible, efficient, and beneficial for businesses of all sizes.

Members of the Board of Principals

Damian Smyth

Damian Smyth – Damian has been Chairman of the Board of Principals and CEO since July 2013. His professional qualifications include a Bachelor of Business or Commerce with Distinction. He is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Registered Tax Agent. His background is in general tax advisory, and has an industry focus on power and electricity generation assets. He is a thought leader for the firm, regularly authoring papers on taxation matters and is quoted in the media on developments in R&D tax systems.

Cherie Jones

Cherie Jones – Cherie is a Partner and Managing Director of Operations at Swanson Reed. She has over 30 years of business experience and has focused exclusively in R&D tax credit preparation since 2015. She has published several articles on R&D tax credit and Patent Box initiatives in the Tax Adviser. Prior to working at Swanson Reed she was an account executive at Johnson Controls.

Sharon Skerman

Sharon Skerman – Sharon is a Principal at Swanson Reed. She is the only surviving daughter of J.W. Norris. She has over 30 years of business experience, is a graduate of Texas Christian University, and sits on the Patent Grants Think Tank board. She has co-authored numerous inventionINDEX innovation policy papers and is responsible for managing Swanson Reed’s North East division.

Andy Nguyen

Andy Nguyen – Andy is a Principal at Swanson Reed and has worked exclusively in R&D tax credit preparation since 2011. He has a degree in Business, Accounting and Finance and is a Chartered Accountant. He has co-authored several peer-reviewed papers alongside Damian Smyth on the R&D tax credit and its implementation.

Adam Rogers

Adam Rogers – Adam is a Principal and Partner at Swanson Reed. He has exclusively worked in the R&D tax credit space since 2005 and is extensively published in peer reviewed journals across six countries, the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia and Singapore. As a mechanical engineer and tax agent, he is the director of technical compliance and assists in audits across multiple jurisdictions.

Patricia Harlow

Patricia Harlow – Patricia is a Principal with Swanson Reed. She has worked with Swanson Reed in the R&D tax credit space since 2014 and has over 30 years business management experience across three countries. She sits on Swanson Reed’s global board and is currently serving as chairperson of the Board of directors of Swanson Reed in the United Kingdom and Swanson Reed in the United States.

Lyle Norris

Lyle Norris – Lyle is a Principal at Swanson Reed in the United States and the only surviving son of Joe W. Norris. He has a background in dentistry and a special focus on dental metallurgy, anaesthesiology and surgical processes. He has co-authored many peer-reviewed technical papers and is familiar with the university grant process, having previously served as a sessional academic. He has previously held board and chair positions with preeminent anaesthesiology boards and currently advises Swanson Reed’s medical and biotechnology R&D tax credits team.

Jess Doocey

Jess Doocey – Jess is a Principal at Swanson Reed. She is an expert in R&D tax structures and corporate alignment, helping to craft internal corporate governance frameworks. She authors key informational guides, strategic guides, and essential guides for clients navigating the strict security standards of federal and state tax credit frameworks.

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