BarkerGilmore Names Senior Director
November 2, 2026 – Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, recently expanded with the addition of Jesus Meraz as senior director. He brings a unique combination of leadership experience, legal training, and strategic business insight to the firm’s executive search practice. His career has been defined by helping organizations identify, attract, and develop exceptional talent while partnering with executive leadership to solve complex hiring challenges.
Before joining BarkerGilmore, Mr. Meraz held talent acquisition leadership roles across multiple industries, where he advised senior executives on hiring strategy, leadership development, and organizational growth. “As a U.S. Army veteran, he pairs a mission-driven leadership approach with an MBA and Juris Doctor, giving him a well-rounded understanding of the business, legal, and governance issues facing today’s organizations,” the firm said.
Before joining BarkerGilmore, Mr. Meraz led recruitment strategies for global organizations, most recently as director of talent acquisition at Publicis Media. In that role, he partnered closely with C-suite leaders on executive hiring, built and developed high performing teams, and drove large scale, cross functional initiatives. His background spans corporate recruiting, DEI advocacy, and executive partnership across media, professional services, and healthcare. As a military veteran, his eight years of service shaped the foundation of his leadership philosophy, which is rooted in accountability, resilience, and mission driven execution.
At BarkerGilmore, Mr. Meraz leverages his expertise to help clients recruit senior legal, compliance, and risk executives. His ability to evaluate leadership capabilities alongside technical and business acumen enables him to serve as a trusted advisor to organizations seeking transformative leaders and long-term organizational success, the firm explained.
“My career has always centered around people, leadership, and helping organizations succeed through talent,” Mr. Meraz said in a recent interview. “I began my professional journey serving in the U.S. Army, where I learned the importance of leadership, teamwork, and mission-focused execution. After earning my degree, I moved into recruiting and talent acquisition roles across a variety of industries. Over the past decade, I’ve progressed from recruiter to talent acquisition leader, partnering with executives to build teams, develop hiring strategies, and solve complex talent challenges. Executive search was a natural next step because it allows me to bring together my experiences in leadership, talent strategy, business, and law to help organizations identify leaders who can make a lasting impact.”
Related: BarkerGilmore Names Strategic Advisor and Executive Coach
“BarkerGilmore’s reputation in the legal, compliance, and risk leadership space immediately stood out to me,” Mr. Meraz explained. “What really attracted me, though, was the opportunity to focus on an area where my professional experience and educational background naturally intersect. The firm’s commitment to quality, diversity, and long-term client success aligns closely with my own values. I’m excited to partner with organizations on some of their most important leadership decisions while working with a team that is widely respected across the industry.”
Serving the Law and Compliance Sectors
BarkerGilmore is a boutique firm specializing in executive search and selection in law and compliance. With a network of advisors and recruiters spanning the U.S., BarkerGilmore consistently places talent at leading consumer, energy, financial, healthcare, industrial, and technology companies.
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John Gilmore, co-founder and managing partner, has over 30 years of executive search experience. He has developed trusted relationships with general counsel and C-suite leaders across the country. With a profound institutional understanding of how in-house legal and compliance departments function most effectively, Mr. Gilmore has earned a reputation as one of the top executive search consultants for general counsel and chief compliance officer placements.
Bob Barker is co-founder, managing partner, and chair of the industrial practice at BarkerGilmore. He brings over three decades of executive search and international business experience to his clients. Mr. Barker has successfully managed general counsel and chief compliance officer engagements for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, including consumer, energy, financial, healthcare and life sciences, industrial, non-profit, technology, and private equity industries. Clients rely on Mr. Barker for advice and counseling both during and after the engagement.
Related: BarkerGilmore Appoints Strategic Advisor and Executive Coach
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
