Buffkin / Baker Acquires Fortra Search
September 1, 2026 – In an effort to strengthen its venture capital and private equity search capabilities, Buffkin / Baker has acquired Fortra Search, a boutique retained executive search firm focused exclusively on executive sales and revenue leadership. The firm has also named its founder Andy Grosso as partner. “We’re thrilled to welcome Andy to Buffkin / Baker,” said Jackson Ross, partner and private equity practice leader. “His firsthand experience building and leading high-performing revenue organizations gives him a practical understanding of what it takes to identify commercial leaders who can scale businesses, accelerate growth, and create lasting enterprise value. His expertise further strengthens our ability to advise CEOs, boards, founders, and investors as they build leadership teams for the next stage of growth.”
“This acquisition will give clients access to a broader national talent network, deeper sector specialization, and enhanced resources to support complex executive search engagements,” Buffkin / Baker said. “Clients will continue to receive the personalized service, trusted counsel, and relationship-driven approach they have come to rely on, now strengthened by the scale and reach of Buffkin / Baker’s national platform.”
Founded by Andy Grosso in 2013, Fortra Search has led executive searches innovative technology companies. Through this work, Mr. Grosso has helped clients build leadership teams capable of scaling revenue through periods of rapid growth, forming relationships with venture capital and private equity-backed companies supported by firms including NEA, Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV), Highland Capital Partners, and Next Frontier Capital.
Mr. Grosso’s experience closely aligns with Buffkin / Baker’s focus on helping investor-backed and high-growth companies secure transformative leadership. Over the course of his search career, he has partnered with founders, boards, and investors to recruit chief revenue officers, vice presidents of sales, marketing, customer success, solutions engineering, and other commercial leaders for organizations ranging from early-stage startups to publicly traded enterprises. Before entering executive search, Mr. Grosso built a career in enterprise software sales and sales leadership at Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC) and Kana Communications.
“I am excited to join Buffkin / Baker and expand the impact of the work we have built at Fortra Search,” said Mr. Grosso. “Buffkin / Baker’s depth of expertise, collaborative culture, and commitment to integrity make this an ideal platform to serve clients at a broader scale. I look forward to partnering with the team to help high-growth and investor-backed companies secure the commercial leaders they need to accelerate growth and create lasting value.”
Buffkin / Baker is a specialty boutique search firm composed of industry leaders in their respective fields and each has over a decade of retained search experience. Their focus as search professionals is to recruit leaders in digital marketing/advertising, technology, healthcare, media/entertainment, finance, higher education, and non-profit. The firm serves public, private, venture, and private equity-backed companies. Its office locations include Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Simons Island, Tampa, Washington, D.C., and Winston-Salem.
Related: Buffkin / Baker Appoints Partner
Buffkin / Baker is a member of Panorama Search, an international federation of retained firms with 18 firms and over 30 offices globally. Buffkin / Baker formed in 2017 with the merger of the Buffkin Group and Baker and Associates LLC.
Past Acquisition
In June, Buffkin / Baker acquired Boston, MA-based Benson Executive Search, a boutique firm focused on the human resources sector. The acquisition strengthens Buffkin / Baker’s HR functional capabilities and gives the firm a stronger presence in the Northeast. “We’re thrilled to welcome Benson Executive Search to Buffkin / Baker,” said Craig Buffkin, managing partner at Buffkin / Baker. “The addition of Benson Executive Search will significantly enhance our HR functional depth and expertise. “Their commitment to excellence, deep client relationships, and functional expertise align perfectly with our mission to deliver transformative leadership solutions. This acquisition represents an important step in our continued growth.”
“By leveraging our combined strengths across sectors like healthcare, private equity, life sciences, technology, higher education, and consumer, we can offer an even greater value to clients seeking top talent and candidates looking for new opportunities,” Mr. Buffkin continued. “We’re pleased to welcome these experienced search professionals, who’ll contribute to the firm’s growing team and further elevate our service offerings.”
Benson Executive Search places senior HR leaders across life sciences, technology, professional and financial services, manufacturing and logistics, healthcare, and industrial sectors. With three decades of experience in the HR and people sector and a network of more than 20,000 executives, including leading HR professionals worldwide, Buffkin / Baker brings Benson Executive Search immediate access to a broader national network of candidates and clients, as well as the infrastructure of a full-service firm. Benson will continue to operate under its trusted name, now supported by the reach and resources of a leading national platform.
Related: Buffkin / Baker Expands Consumer Practice
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
