Our Team

Rich Haselwood serves as a key member of Ballard Partners, bringing extensive experience in government relations, policy strategy, and corporate advocacy. Rich is best known for his long tenure in senior government affairs roles at both the federal and state level for some of the nation’s largest companies. He most recently served as a Vice President of Federal Government Relations at RAI Services Company, a subsidiary of Reynolds American, where he has worked since 2008. In this capacity, he played a leading role in federal government relations and policy engagement for the organization.

Previously, Haselwood also served as Senior Director of State Government Relations at Reynolds American, where he contributed to state‑level policy development and stakeholder engagement efforts. His earlier professional background includes roles such as Vice President at United Rentals, Vice President at ING and Director at UST, where he strengthened his experience in legislative affairs, regulatory issues, and corporate strategy.

Rich holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Connecticut and leverages his cross-industry experience to support Ballard Partners’ clients in navigating complex federal and state regulatory environments, strengthening strategic positioning, and securing meaningful engagement with policymakers.