Brock Southwood

Brock Southwood is the Vice President of People & Culture at Book Depot Inc., where he leads the company’s people strategy across Canada and the United States. With more than 15 years of leadership experience in human resources, organizational development, workforce strategy, healthcare, military service, and operations, Brock is dedicated to building high-performing teams and creating exceptional employee experiences that support business growth and long-term success.

As a strategic people leader, Brock oversees all aspects of talent, culture, leadership development, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness. He is passionate about aligning people strategies with business objectives, helping organizations scale while maintaining a strong, values-driven culture. His expertise includes workforce planning, change management, employee relations, talent development, succession planning, and building inclusive workplaces where employees can thrive.

Prior to joining Book Depot Inc., Brock held senior HR leadership roles with Covenant Health, supporting a workforce of more than 2,400 employees and partnering with leaders across the organization to advance talent management, employee engagement, compensation, compliance, and organizational development initiatives. His diverse background also includes leadership roles in both civilian and military organizations, providing him with a unique perspective on team performance, operational excellence, and leadership development.

Brock holds a Master of Science in Management and Human Resources from the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Indiana State University. He also serves as a Human Resources Officer in the United States Army Reserve, where he continues to lead workforce readiness, talent management, and leadership initiatives.

Driven by a belief that people are an organization’s greatest competitive advantage, Brock is committed to fostering cultures where employees feel connected, empowered, and inspired to do their best work every day.