Buffkin / Baker

About Us

Buffkin / Baker is a partner-led executive search firm specializing in Healthcare, Higher Education, Private Equity, Technology/Digital, Consumer, and Non-Profit sectors. Each partner, a leader in their field, brings over a decade of retained search experience, contributing to a collective total of more than 300 years in search and over 400 years in industry and operational expertise. The firm operates from multiple locations, including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Simons Island, Tampa, Washington, DC, and Winston-Salem. Buffkin / Baker is a member of Panorama, a global community of over 400 leadership experts working together in 70+ office locations to promote a diverse perspective on leadership, embracing creative thinking, and sharing our expertise and experience to bring our clients the very best results.

Achievements

RECENT PLACEMENTS

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At Buffkin/Baker, its partners are experts in the verticals in which they specialize. This is one secret to their success in finding the right talent for clients’ organizations. The firm possess firsthand knowledge and understanding of the industries in which they work, and know what it takes to be successful in each of its domains. This understanding, partnered with their extensive network and proven process, allows the firm to effectively help clients with their important hiring decisions.

For them, success means not just finding a leader for our client companies but finding the right leader. The firm carefully evaluates clients’ company culture, specific organizational needs, and leadership talent to ensure they place an individual who is not only capable of excelling at the position, but who also is an ideal fit for that specific company culture and environment. At the end of the day, their 99% completion rate for their searches speaks for itself.

Buffkin / Baker

Solutions And Expertise

Buffkin / Baker is a retained, specialty boutique search firm composed of industry leaders. Each partner in the firm has been a leader in their respective fields and each has over a decade of retained search experience.

Combined, its partners have more than 300 years in search and over 400 years in industry and operational expertise.

Solutions
  • Assessment
  • Board Services
  • Executive Search
  • Succession Planning
Industries
Functions
  • Board/Governance
  • CEO/President
  • Data/Analytics
  • Finance/Accounting
  • GM/Operations
  • Information/Digital
  • Legal/Compliance
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Medical/Clinical

Buffkin / Baker

News Briefings

Buffkin / Baker Seeks Director of Athletics for Middle Georgia State University

Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has been called in to help find the next director of athletics for Middle Georgia State University (MGA) in Macon. The new AD search comes as the university is pursuing membership in the NCAA Division II and looks into the possibility of joining the Peach Bowl Conference. Leading the

Buffkin / Baker Leading President Search for Chowan University

Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker was recently selected by Chowan University  to lead its search for a new president. Kirk Peterson recently stepped down from the role to spend more time with his family. Partner Ken Carrick is leading the assignment. The president serves as the chief executive officer of the university with responsibility for ensuring

Buffkin / Baker Adds to Higher Education Practice

Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has expanded with the addition of Ann Yates as a partner in its higher education practice area. “We are delighted to welcome Ann to the Buffkin / Baker team. Her demonstrated success in recruiting diverse and talented candidates will bring substantial value to our clients across the country,” said

Buffkin / Baker Recruits Sixth President for Christopher Newport University

Executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has recruited Rear Admiral William G. Kelly as the sixth president of Christopher Newport University (CNU). Leading the assignment were Martin M. Baker, managing partner and Chelsie Whitelock, principal. Mr. Kelly was selected after a year-long rigorous, inclusive nationwide search. The board was unanimous in its decision, noting that Mr. Kelly’s life of public

Buffkin / Baker

Press Releases

University of Mississippi appoints Viola Acoff as Dean, School of Engineering

Congratulations to award-winning researcher and educator Viola Acoff on being named Dean of the University of Mississippi School of Engineering. This announcement follows a comprehensive national search led by Martin Baker and Chelsie Whitelock of the Buffkin/Baker Higher Education Practice. As the first female and first African American to serve in this position, Acoff comes

Shan Hood named President at The Wise Company

The Wise Company has named Shan Hood as President following a comprehensive search led by Jackson Ross and Ashley Stephens. The Wise Company was founded in 1961 by Charles W. Wise to manufacture seat assemblies and related items for road machinery, forklifts, farm equipment, trucks, golf carts, pleasure, and fishing boats along with additional miscellaneous

University of Mississippi School of Law appoints Frederick Slabach as Dean

Frederick Slabach has been chosen as the new Dean of the University of Mississippi School of Law. Buffkin/Baker was proud to partner with the University in this national search led by Martin Baker and Chelsie Whitelock, CDR. With a 25-year career in higher education, Slabach has spent the last 12 years as president of Texas

Christopher Newport University appoints Rear Admiral William G. Kelly as the sixth President

Rear Admiral William G. Kelly has been appointed as the sixth President of Christopher Newport University. Buffkin / Baker was honored to partner with the University for the inclusive nationwide search led by Martin Baker and Chelsie Whitelock, CDR. A nationally respected educator and military leader, Kelly serves as the Superintendent (President) of the U.S.

Johnson & Wales University (JWU) – Charlotte Appoints Richard G. Mathieu, Ph.D. As President

Buffkin / Baker recently placed Richard G. Mathieu, Ph.D., as President of the Charlotte Campus of Johnson & Wales University (JWU) – Charlotte. Dr. Mathieu recently served as Dean of the McColl College of Business and the Interim Dean of the Blair College of Health. Prior to moving to Charlotte in 2015, Dr. Mathieu spent 10

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Multimedia

Videos

Women in Leadership
Women in Private Equity
Bufkin / Baker and Panorama
Bufkin / Baker and the History of Our Firm
Buffkin / Baker and Why We Keep Going
Bufkin / Baker and the Traits of Our Firm
Buffkin / Baker and the Vision for the Future
Buffkin / Baker: Empathy in the Workplace

Insights:

Good Governance, Succession, and Why External Validation Matters—Even for Internal Candidates
Private Equity Compensation Trends for 2026: Precision, Performance, and Pay for Value Creation
Relationship‑Driven Executive Search in the Age of AI: Insights from Partner Tom Wilson
Introducing our New Series: The Modern CHRO
Challenge: PE Investment in Founder-Led Healthcare Businesses
“Junior” Executives—Executive Search at the Director Level
Remote Work vs On-Site Work. Which is the right direction?
The Critical Role of HR Leadership During Private Equity Transitions
Enhancing Business Outcomes: The CHRO & CFO Alliance
Start Ups & Unicorns
Interim HR Consulting: A New Strategy for Agile Leadership
What is Talent Acquisition?
What is Total Rewards?
Expand Your Network Today for Tomorrow’s Opportunities
Creating A Relationship With A Retained Executive Search Firm
Strengthening Your Hiring Process: Why Building Company Brand Matters
Partnering with an Executive Search Firm to Recruit Higher Education Leaders
Recruiting And The Love Language
Rising Importance Of Chief Data Officer In Tomorrow’s Successful Enterprises
The Impact of a Down Market on Executive Placements
Finding a Signal, In a World Full of Noise
Leveraging The Chief Data Officer In Healthcare Organizations
2020 Trends for Higher Education Institutions
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