BarkerGilmore Names Strategic Advisor and Executive Coach
September 24, 2025 – Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has appointed Bjarne Tellmann as a strategic advisor and executive coach. “Bjarne is widely regarded as one of the most innovative legal leaders in the U.S. and the world,” said Bob Barker, managing partner of BarkerGilmore. “His experience guiding a FTSE 20 company through the largest London listing in a decade, combined with his proven ability to build high-performing global teams, will be an extraordinary asset to our clients.”
With more than three decades of global legal and C-suite experience, Mr. Tellmann joins BarkerGilmore’s advisory team of former chief legal officers and chief compliance officers who have led some of the world’s most respected companies.
Mr. Tellmann served as founding general counsel and executive committee member of Haleon plc, where he co-led the £32 billion spin-off from GSK and the company’s dual listing on the London and New York Stock Exchanges, building a 230-person global legal, compliance, and security team from the ground up. Earlier in his career, he was SVP and general counsel of GSK Consumer Healthcare, chief legal officer and general counsel of Pearson plc, and held senior legal roles at Aramco, The Coca-Cola Company, Kimberly-Clark, Ltd., Sullivan & Cromwell, and White & Case.
Mr. Tellmann is CEO of a boutique consultancy firm for the legal industry. He is also the author of Building an Outstanding Legal Team: Battle-Tested Strategies from a General Counsel, which is widely recognized as a leading reference for in-house leaders.
BarkerGilmore’s coaching and advisory platform is designed exclusively for in-house legal and compliance leaders and is tailored to distinct career stages: seasoned CLOs and CCOs seeking a trusted advisor and coach, newly appointed executives to accelerate their impact, and succession candidates preparing for the top role.
“I have always believed that world-class legal teams are strategic enablers of business success,” said Mr. Tellmann. “BarkerGilmore’s reputation for partnering with the most forward-thinking legal and compliance leaders made this a natural next step. I look forward to helping our clients navigate complexity, find talent, and seize opportunities with confidence.”
Mr. Tellmann serves on the UK Civil Justice Council’s Futures Group, is a senior visiting fellow at The London School of Economics, and is a senior advisor to G3, a global business intelligence, risk, and cyber advisory group. He is also a founding faculty member of the Global General Counsel Academy at King’s College, London, and at the Digital Legal Exchange, as well as a faculty member of the General Counsel Academy in the Netherlands.
Related: BarkerGilmore Issues 2025 In-House Counsel Compensation Report
BarkerGilmore’s executive coaching services are offered exclusively to in-house legal and compliance leaders and are customized to address specific career stages and role-specific challenges: for sitting CLOs and CCOs seeking a trusted advisor, for succession candidates preparing for the top role, and to accelerate the success of newly appointed executives.
Law and Compliance Specialists
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.
BarkerGilmore Appoints Strategic Advisor and Leadership Development Coach
BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has named Edward Nekritz as a strategic advisor and leadership development coach. “Ed is one of the most respected legal minds in the REIT and real estate investment communities,” said Bob Barker, managing partner of BarkerGilmore. “His strategic acumen, global experience, and proven leadership in times of growth and crisis make him an extraordinary asset to our clients. We are thrilled to welcome him as a trusted advisor and coach.” With more than three decades of experience in international real estate, corporate governance, and legal strategy, Mr. Nekritz joins a team of advisory professionals at BarkerGilmore who have served as chief legal officers and chief compliance officers at many of the nation’s best-known companies.
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.
Mr. 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 Names Senior Advisor
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
