About Us

Buffkin / Baker is a partner-led executive search firm focusing on Healthcare, Higher Education, Private Equity, Digital Transformation, Technology, Media & Telecom, 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 Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, St. Simons Island, Washington, DC, and Winston-Salem 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

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 Recruits President and COO for aptihealth

Executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has recruited Tim Koehler as president and chief operating officer of aptihealth, a Saratoga Springs, NY-based tech-driven behavioral healthcare provider. Partner Jackson Ross led the assignment. “I am grateful to our entire aptihealth team for their dedication and hard work in helping us build a powerful, high-impact behavioral healthcare company,”

Buffkin / Baker Names Chief Clinical Officer

Executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has added David Ballard as chief clinical officer in its healthcare practice. “David is a welcome addition to the Buffkin / Baker team,” said Craig Buffkin, managing partner. “His extensive healthcare experience provides us with a strong foundation to provide quality service for our clients seeking today’s leading physician, nursing, and

Buffkin / Baker Retained by Oklahoma State University to Lead Provost Search

Executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has been called in by Oklahoma State University to lead its search for a new senior vice president and provost. Leading the assignment is Martin M. Baker, managing partner and Chelsie Whitelock, principal. The provost serves as the chief academic officer of the university and reports directly to the president of the

Press Releases

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

Hugh Boston Joins JEGI CLARITY as Managing Director

(April 19, 2021) JEGI CLARITY, a pre-eminent M&A advisory firm for the global media, marketing, information and technology industries, headquartered in New York, NY and London, UK, is pleased to announce that Hugh Boston has joined the firm as Managing Director. Hugh brings more than 20 years of M&A, capital markets and operating experience working

Altafonte Appoints Ricardo Chamberlain to Global Marketing Senior VP

(April 30, 2021) Ricardo Chamberlain has been appointed Altafonte’s global marketing senior vice president, Billboard has learned. The announcement follows an extensive search involving a comprehensive process led by Buffkin / Baker Partner Tom Truitt and Associate Ashleigh Shulman. As global marketing svp, Chamberlain will be tasked with developing strategic initiatives and opportunities for Altafonte’s

Manring Named New Dean of the College of Engineering

(April 14, 2021) University of Missouri Provost Latha Ramchand today announced that Noah Manring has been named the new dean of the MU College of Engineering. Manring has served as the interim dean of the college since May 2020 following the departure of Elizabeth Loboa. He will assume his new duties on May 1, which

Buffkin / Baker Names Jen Bradley New Partner

(Jan. 27, 2021) Buffkin / Baker, a partner-led executive search firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Jen Bradley to partner, where she will be responsible for creating value for clients in both the firm’s healthcare and private equity practice. Bradley joined Buffkin / Baker in 2008 as an associate actively engaged in executive

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