About Us

Buffkin / Baker is a partner-led team of executive search professionals recruiting leaders who impact and transform organizations. We provide a high-touch, tailored search process based on deep sector expertise. Our team delivers outstanding outcomes for clients through professional candidate interactions and exceptional search execution. We focus on healthcare, higher education, private equity, entertainment/media, digital, and non-profit. As leaders in their respective fields, each partner has over a decade of retained search experience. Combined, the firm’s partners have more than 175 years of search experience and more than 220 years of industry/operating experience. Office locations include Nashville, New York, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, with an affiliate office in London. Buffkin / Baker is a member of Panorama, a global community of over 400 leadership experts working together to promote a diverse perspective of leadership, embracing creative thinking, and sharing our expertise and experience to bring our clients the very best results.

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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.

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 over 175 years of search experience and 210 years of industry experience.

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

News Briefings

Princeton Theological Seminary Selects Buffkin / Baker to Find New CFO

Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has been retained by the Princeton Theological Seminary to lead in its search for a new chief financial officer. Leading the assignment is Martin M. Baker, managing partner, and Pelema Ellis, associate partner. The search appears to be in its final stages as the firm recently stopped taking new applications. The CFO

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

Press Releases

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

Aptihealth Appoints Tim Koehler As President & Chief Operating Officer

Tim Koehler has been been appointed as the new President and Chief Operating Officer at aptihealth, the leading tech-driven behavioral healthcare provider built for higher acuity care. Jackson Ross, Partner in the Healthcare Practice led this comprehensive search. “Tim’s background, skill set, and passion are uniquely aligned with the current and future needs at aptihealth. The

Nashville Entrepreneur Center appoints Rebekah Carroll as SVP of Strategy & Operations

Rebekah Carroll has been named Senior Vice President of Strategy & Operations at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC), a non-profit organization with a vision to be the best place in America to start and grow a business. This announcement comes after Buffkin/Baker and the EC partnered in a comprehensive search led by Mark Farrington, Partner and Ben Williams, Associate. In

Buffkin / Baker Names Megan Berlinger Associate Partner

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Sept. 1, 2022– Buffkin / Baker, a partner-led executive search firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Megan Shepherd Berlinger as associate partner in its health care practice. Berlinger will join the health care delivery vertical, leading our academic medicine searches with a focus on serving AAMC institutions and health systems.  With

Buffkin / Baker Names Steve Marsh Partner

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., July 26, 2022 – Buffkin / Baker, a partner-led executive search firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Steve Marsh as a partner in its health care practice. Marsh will be responsible for leading the health care delivery vertical of the firm’s health care practice, serving health systems, AAMC institutions, not-for-profit and

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