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

Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.8 Percent 

Employment rose by 678,000 in February as the U.S. unemployment rate edged up to 3.8 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Job growth was widespread, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, healthcare, and construction. The number of unemployed persons edged down to 6.3 million. In February

Buffkin / Baker Seeks General Counsel for University of Missouri System  

Executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has been chosen to recruit the next general counsel for the University of Missouri (MU) in Columbia. Leading the assignment is Martin M. Baker, managing partner. Last month general counsel Steve Owens announced his plans to step down in March. Board curator chair Darryl Chatman appointed a search committee, which

Buffkin / Baker Taps Chief Information and Technology Officer for CarePayment

Buffkin / Baker has placed Satish Kumar as the new chief information and technology officer for healthcare finance company CarePayment. The search was led by partner Jen Bradley and principal Ryan Baggett. Mr. Kumar joins CarePayment from Medalogix, a predictive analytics company in the home health space, where he served as senior vice president and chief technology

Buffkin / Baker Recruits Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of San Diego

Martin M. Baker, managing partner of Buffkin / Baker, assisted the University of San Diego (USD) in the recruitment of Regina Dixon-Reeves as its vice provost for diversity, equity and inclusion. “I am delighted to announce that Regina Dixon-Reeves, PhD, has been appointed as vice provost for diversity, equity and inclusion,” said USD VP and

Buffkin / Baker

Press Releases

Buffkin / Baker Aides Oklahoma State System of Higher Education in Chancellor Search

(Sept. 24, 2021) Congratulations to Allison D. Garrett for being named as the next Chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. She will be the first woman to hold the position of Chancellor. Buffkin/Baker was chosen after a competitive bid process led by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and conducted by Martin Baker, Chelsie Whitelock,

Buffkin / Baker Names Jackson Ross Principal

(Sept. 20, 2021) Buffkin / Baker, a partner-led executive search firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Jackson Ross as principal, where he will be responsible for creating value for clients in the firm’s health care, private equity, and digital transformation practices. Ross brings more than 20 years of experience exceeding client expectations and

Buffkin / Baker Principal Becomes AIRS Certified Diversity & Inclusion Recruiter

(June 2021) Chelsie Whitelock, principal at Buffkin / Baker, recently became an AIRS powered by ADP Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter (CDR). Utilizing the AIRS search techniques enables Buffkin / Baker’s recruiters to locate diverse candidate pools using a variety of resources, including #internet search techniques, and employ effective keywords that can be added to

Dr. Kayse Shrum Named Next President of Oklahoma State University

(April 2021) The Oklahoma State University A&M Board of Regents has selected Dr. Kayse Shrum as the 19th president of Oklahoma State University. The announcement follows an extensive national search involving an inclusive process composed of representatives from across the OSU system, including faculty, students, staff and alumni. The announcement follows an extensive national search

Alyson Gill Named as New Provost for Lees-McRae

(April 2021) Alyson Gill, PhD, has accepted the position of provost for Lees-McRae College. She comes to the college from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, where she held the titles of provost and chief academic officer. Her anticipated start date is July 1. The announcement follows a nationwide search for the position

Buffkin / Baker

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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