The Barton Partnership Appoints Leader of Independent Consulting Practice
July 9, 2025 – The Barton Partnership, a U.K.-based executive search firm, has appointed BJ Clinton as North America director and senior vice president to lead its independent consulting practice. “I couldn’t be more excited to welcome BJ to our team,” said Mike Doud, EVP, North America. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with him in a previous chapter of my career and know first-hand the talent and expertise he brings. BJ’s leadership will be instrumental as we move through this next phase of growth, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to partner with him once again.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome BJ to lead our independent consulting practice in North America” said CEO Oliver Phoenix, CEO. “With a well-established proposition globally and a strong US network already in place, the opportunity for growth is immense, and BJ’s leadership and experience will be key to unlocking it. This marks an exciting new chapter in our expansion.”
Mr. Clinton joins The Barton Partnership with over 25 years of experience across leadership, business development, executive search, and consulting services. He previously spent over 24 years with Robert Half, holding various positions including managing vice president, and vice president of strategic accounts, among others. Mr. Clinton is a U.S. Army veteran and corporate sales leader driven by a passion for sales excellence, strategic growth, and leadership.
In his new role with The Barton Partnership, Mr. Clinton will lead the Independent consulting solutions practice and play a key part in driving the company’s continued expansion across North America.
“The decision to join The Barton Partnership and lead the consulting practice was clear, given the strength of its foundation,” said Mr. Clinton. “CEO Oliver Phoenix and EVP Mike Doud are sharply focused on expanding consulting solutions across North America, and it’s energizing to be part of that vision. With a global footprint, a strong reputation for specialization, and a culture defined by collaboration and client impact, I’m confident we’ll build something truly meaningful together.”
The Barton Partnership is an executive recruitment firm providing permanent search and independent consulting services across all aspects of strategy and M&A, digital, data and analytics, ESG and sustainability, and transformation and change.
With offices in New York, Chicago, Paris, Singapore, Hong Kong and now Sydney, The Barton Partnership’s clients include FTSE listed and Fortune 500 companies across all sectors/industries, SMEs, strategic, innovation and management consulting firms (large and boutique), global financial services, and private equity and venture capital organizations.
New CEO
The Barton Partnership recently appointed Mr. Phoenix as CEO. Founder Nicholas Barton continues in his role as advisor and brand ambassador. “I couldn’t be prouder or more excited to announce Olly’s appointment to CEO as we move into the 18th year since I founded The Barton Partnership, and off the back of a record-breaking and award-winning 2024,” Mr. Barton said. “Founding, growing, and leading this business has been an incredible experience. Still, my greatest satisfaction has come from watching people within the firm evolve and grow over that time, and Olly is a great example of that. I’m looking forward to supporting our next chapter in my new capacity and I couldn’t be more excited and optimistic about the future of the firm and the incredible possibilities that lie ahead.”
Related: The Barton Partnership Opens New Office in Sydney
Mr. Phoenix has played a crucial role in the business’s success over the past decade and is positioned to lead The Barton Partnership through its next growth phase. He has driven expansion across the U.K. and throughout the EMEA region, continually developed The Barton Partnership’s proposition globally, and driven key account growth and diversification across all sectors.
The Barton Partnership Names Leader for North American Expansion
The Barton Partnership has appointed Michael J. Doud as executive vice president, North America. He will lead the firm’s continued strategic expansion in the North American market. “The North American market is a huge opportunity for us as a firm; our proposition is well-established, and we have a talented team in place,” said Oliver Phoenix, CEO. “The addition of Mike, whose track record developing and growing professional services businesses in the U.S. is second-to-none, will allow us to achieve our potential in this market over the next few years. We are excited to have him on board, and I look forward to working closely with him moving forward. His deep understanding of the North American market and commitment to excellence make him a valuable addition to The Barton Partnership’s leadership team.”
Over the last nearly 20 years in the industry, Mr. Phoenix has worked with consultancies and corporates within the strategy, M&A and transformation space, giving him an understanding of the sector and what clients want from a specialist talent provider. He has coupled this with over 10 years of experience leading senior teams and operating at board level as the business has grown to over one hundred in headcount and over £20 million in net fee income. Mr. Phoenix first joined Barton as director of permanent search and then was named group managing director.
The Barton Partnership recently formed alliance with Strategy in Action, a leader in the field of strategy formulation and execution. “We are delighted to partner with Strategy in Action to offer our clients a comprehensive and innovative approach to strategy,” said Oliver Phoenix, managing director EMEA. “By integrating SiA’s platform with our independent consulting and advisory services, we can provide our clients with a flexible and bespoke approach to driving sustainable growth and delivering measurable impact.”
“Strategy in Action and The Barton Partnership are dedicated to enhancing strategic excellence globally,” said Davide Sola, co-founder and CEO of Strategy in Action. “I’m confident that this collaboration will yield outstanding results for both our network and clients, leveraging Strategy in Action’s capabilities. I look forward to our journey of growth together.”
Related: The Barton Partnership Appoints Senior Leaders
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
