HR & People

Empowering organizations through exceptional people leadership.

Contact Us

Transforming HR and People Operations.

Our Human Resources Practice is one of the largest and most experienced practices in the US with over 600 completed searches in a wide variety of industry sectors. We have a network of over 25,000 executives, including leading HR professionals from around the globe. This extensive network provides us with immediate access to a wide and diverse pool of candidates and clients, supported by the resources of a full-service firm and a seasoned HR team of professionals.

At Buffkin / Baker, we are dedicated to transforming HR and People Operations to create an agile workforce suited for today’s business landscape. Our unmatched experience in placing HR and People leaders allows us to stand out by leveraging our connections with thousands of executives. We are committed to excellence, connecting you with the executive talent necessary to elevate your business.

Want to stay on top of our latest HR roles and updates? Follow our HR LinkedIn page!

Featured

Buffkin / Baker Acquires Benson Executive Search, Expanding Capabilities and Human Resources Sector Expertise

Explore

HR Executives for recruiting.

Human Resources leaders are the architects of culture, the stewards of talent, and the strategic partners who align people with purpose. In today’s evolving business landscape, the HR & People function extends far beyond operations — it shapes how organizations attract, retain, and inspire their greatest asset: their people.

People Operations

Responsible for shaping the organization’s strategy and culture, they recruit and develop leaders to manage operations effectively.

Total Rewards

Enhance a company’s competitive edge in the labor market, manage executive compensation, including short- and longterm incentives, sales compensation, total rewards, equity planning, and employee benefits. Additionally, monitor HRIS metrics and analytics to support these initiatives effectively.

Learning and Development

Organizations that focus on continuous learning and development (L&D) generally outperform those that don’t. L&D executives are essential in equipping the workforce with skills that set the company apart from competitors.

Employee Success

Communicate clearly that employees’ contributions drive the company’s success and that they are highly valued.

Talent Acquisition and Talent Management

Align a company’s goals with effective strategies for recruitment, development, and retention. They attract, motivate, and retain talent essential for growth across markets and product offerings. By staying ahead of workforce trends, they promote innovative talent development, ensuring the organization remains a market leader.

HR and People Business Partners

Combine HR generalist skills with a strategic, business oriented perspective. By leveraging insights from functional leaders in global Centers of Excellence, they understand their business line’s objectives and effectively implement rewards and development programs to drive organizational success.

 

Expert perspectives. Real world impact.

Our thought leadership and news updates provide insights on executive search, leadership trends, and industry developments. We share knowledge that helps organizations make informed decisions and prepare for what’s next in leadership.

  • featured, news

Buffkin / Baker Acquires Benson Executive Search, Expanding Capabilities and Human Resources Sector Expertise

Nashville,TN and Boston, MA. – June 8, 2026 Buffkin / Baker, a leading retained executive search firm, today announced the acquisition of Benson Executive Search,...

Explore
  • blog, featured

Talent Acquisition from an In-House Perspective

In-house executive search teams are undergoing a quiet but significant transformation. Once viewed primarily as process enforcers or cost-saving alternatives to retained search firms, today’s...

Explore

Our Team

Alice Benson

Partner & Practice Leader

Bob McCarthy

Partner

Beth Ann Namey

Partner

Jim May

Partner

David Alexander

Partner & Practice Leader

Laura Gruber

Principal

Lucy Jreige

Principal

Susan O’Leary

Principal

Suzanne Solleder

Principal

Patricia Murphy

Research Manager

Partner & Practice Leader

Alice Benson

Alice brings over 20 years of executive search experience, working tirelessly for organizations going through change. She is known for her close trusting partnerships with clients and candidates, getting a great outcome for both.

Prior to founding Benson Executive Search, Alice was the President & CEO of Gatti & Associates. Alice drove the revitalization of the brand while growing the business and expanding its reach across the US. Before leading Gatti, Alice was with a UK based Life Sciences executive search firm with Alice driving the firm’s penetration into the US market. Previous executive search experience included work in the Tech and Professional Services markets with a boutique and then a large multi-national executive search firm.

Her corporate experience included senior HR roles with companies going through significant change including BBN, Lotus, Bank of Boston and PTC. Alice serves as a board member of HRLF (Human Resources Leadership Forum) and the Weston Council on Aging and volunteers for Life Science Cares and Nevins Farm.

Partner

Bob McCarthy

Bob brings 20-plus years of experience in executive recruiting, employee and recruitment communications, culture development, marketing and technology to the Benson team. Leveraging his experience working with HR leadership teams at transformative organizations, Bob joined Benson Executive Search to focus on bringing top human resource talent to the best organizations across all industries.

Bob’s career began at Omnicom working with large global brands on communication strategies. He was part of the team that launched the web’s first job site, CareerMosaic — which became Careerbuilder.

Bob’s work in communications and technology led to leadership positions at J. Walter Thompson, where he built a national sales organization and Akibia, where he created new revenue streams by delivering infrastructure and call center technical support to growing sales teams at Sunovian and Verizon. Bob returned to Omnicom/Hodes to develop employer brand strategies for Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Vanguard and, Raytheon before joining GattiHR in a venture to co-create and launch HR Technologies including, Wrkt and TalentBoost.

Throughout his career, Bob’s developed an ability to quickly comprehend the nuances of corporate cultures and has a deep appreciation for the tireless work being done in the Human Resources Community. He’s an active member of the HRLF (Human Resource Leadership Forum) where he chairs the Leadership Development Program Committee.

When not working, Bob enjoys spending time with family, travel, cooking and motor sports… with a soundtrack appropriate to the occasion.

Partner

Beth Ann Namey

Beth Ann Namey is a Partner and a highly skilled executive search consultant specializing in HR and People functions. She has a proven track record of success in collaborating with innovative startups and established enterprises across diverse sectors. Her keen ability to understand the unique needs of organizations, identify top-tier talent, and deliver exceptional results makes her an invaluable partner for clients aiming to build high-performing teams. Beth Ann has successfully conducted numerous HR leadership searches for both U.S. and global companies, focusing on roles such as Chief Human Resource Officers, Chief People Officers, and Heads of People. She has also been instrumental in developing verticals in Talent, Total Rewards, and HR Business Partner functions, demonstrating her expertise in these critical areas.

Her impressive client roster includes notable companies like Workday, NuBank, Northwestern Mutual, Waymo, New Relic, X the moonshot factory, Western Digital, Rakuten USA, Profisee, Datavant, SeekOut, GRAIL, Clover Health, Peak Design, and Vuori. These organizations have relied on Beth Ann to deliver results, and her deep insights, assessment skills, and commitment to client satisfaction have established her as an indispensable asset in their talent acquisition strategies. Moreover, her unique combination of discipline and grace, cultivated during her early career as a professional ballet dancer and coach, distinguishes her in the executive search industry. This background has equipped Beth Ann with a sharp eye for detail and a profound understanding of the importance of adaptability and performance under pressure.

Beth Ann graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary’s College of California and is currently based in Nashville, TN.

Partner

Jim May

Jim May is a Partner at the firm, with an impressive career in executive recruiting that spans over a decade. He has established himself as a trusted advisor and a go-to resource for top-tier organizations seeking exceptional leadership talent.

A passionate advocate for human resources (HR) and organizational success, Jim possesses expertise in HR, Finance, Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies, Operations, and other critical leadership roles. This diverse skill set allows him to provide a unique blend of talent acquisition and strategic consulting in every search he undertakes.

Earlier in his career, Jim held various talent acquisition positions, further enhancing his capabilities. He has successfully conducted searches for both U.S. and global companies across a wide range of industries, including notable names such as lululemon, Grail, Quantcast, Bluberi Gaming, Kyverna Therapeutics, Synaptics, Sirona Medical, Datavant, Clover Health, Academy of Art University, Schneider Electric, and Total Quality Logistics.

Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising with a specialization in Communication Sales from Michigan State University and is a certified Professional Resume Writer. He currently resides in the Cleveland area with his wife, Kaitlyn, their son, Hudson, and their dog, Winnie. In his leisure time, Jim enjoys hiking in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park with his family or spending a day on the golf course.

Partner & Practice Leader

David Alexander

David Alexander is Partner in the firm and the Consumer Practice Leader. With more than 30 years of executive recruitment and talent management experience, David is passionate about helping organizations find people who will thrive in their unique business and operating culture.

He has served as a senior human resources executive for such world-class firms as SAP, AT&T, Washington Mutual, Allied Signal, Gateway and Compaq. Most recently, David served as the Chief People Officer for Raising Cane’s, which grew from 10,000 to 20,000 global employees under his leadership.

After working in public and private companies across multiple industries, David understands the challenges that both high growth and high turn around environments pose for organizations. That experience drives his mission to find, strengthen and grow transformational leaders for clients, both as an executive search consultant and executive coach.

David is a graduate of Texas A&M University and has served as an officer in the United States Air Force. He and his wife Meri live in New Braunfels, Texas, enjoying their children and 2 grandchildren. When not supporting clients and spending time with his family, David enjoys hunting, fishing and serving his church as a worship musician.

Principal

Laura Gruber

Laura Gruber is a Principal with over 25 years of experience spanning executive search, human resources leadership, talent acquisition, and organizational development. 

Since joining Benson Executive Search in 2018, Laura has led retained executive search engagements across biotechnology, life sciences, technology, healthcare, financial services, and private equity-backed organizations.

Prior to her executive search career, Laura spent nearly two decades in progressive human resources leadership roles. Most recently, she served as Senior Director of Human Resources at INTTRA, a global SaaS technology company, where she led all human resources functions for a workforce spanning more than 15 countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and South Africa. In this role, she partnered closely with executive leadership to develop talent strategies, build high-performing teams, enhance employee engagement, and support the company’s continued global expansion.

Earlier in her career, Laura held increasingly responsible HR leadership positions with Capital Group, one of the world’s largest investment management firms, where she supported business growth through talent acquisition, employee development, organizational effectiveness, and change management initiatives. She began her career with A.P. Moller – Maersk, progressing from customer service into corporate recruiting and training roles, where she managed nationwide college recruitment programs and developed expertise in talent identification and workforce planning..

Laura earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Spanish from Muhlenberg College. She is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management and remains engaged in the evolving landscape of leadership, talent, and human capital strategy.

Outside of work, Laura enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and building lasting relationships throughout the HR and executive leadership communities

Principal

Lucy Jreige

Alice Jreige, MBA, serves as a Principal, where she oversees search operations, leads executive search assignments, and serves as the primary HR point of contact for the Benson Executive Search team. She is responsible for ensuring an efficient, high-quality, and consistent search process that delivers strong candidate pipelines and an exceptional client and candidate experience.

With more than seven years of experience in executive search and HR leadership, Lucy brings a strong combination of operational discipline and hands-on recruiting expertise. She partners closely with search leads and clients to align on strategy, while also managing active searches as a recruiter. Her work spans candidate sourcing, pipeline development, and search execution, along with the implementation of systems, reporting, and process improvements that enhance overall team performance.

In addition to her search leadership responsibilities, Lucy plays a key role in mentoring and supporting the recruiting team, helping to refine best practices and strengthen candidate engagement strategies across projects. She is passionate about building efficient, thoughtful hiring processes that support both client success and a positive candidate experience.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering in her community, dedicating time to causes that are meaningful to her.

Principal

Susan O’Leary

Susan O’Leary is a Principal with over 20 years of experience in recruiting, talent acquisition, staffing, and leadership across a variety of industries. She has a strong background in executive search and talent management, partnering with organizations to identify and attract high-performing professionals for critical roles.

Since joining Benson Executive Search in 2020, Susan has specialized in executive recruiting for Human Resources, helping clients build exceptional leadership teams and drive organizational success. Prior to her current role, she served as Search Director at GattiHR, where she led search initiatives and talent acquisition strategies for a diverse portfolio of clients.

Earlier in her career, Susan spent nearly a decade with Randstad USA, progressing through recruiting, sales/account management, branch management, and regional management roles. This experience provided her with a comprehensive understanding of workforce solutions, business development, and organizational growth.

In addition to her recruiting career, Susan owned and operated a small fitness training business from 2012 to 2019 and earned her CrossFit Level 1 (CF-L1) Trainer certification. This experience strengthened her passion for coaching, performance development, and helping individuals achieve their goals.

Susan earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northeastern University. She is passionate about connecting talented professionals with meaningful career opportunities and helping organizations build strong, successful teams.

Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys fitness, health and wellness, spending time with family and friends, and supporting others in reaching their personal and professional potential.

Principal

Suzanne Solleder

Suzanne Solleder is a Principal, where she specializes in identifying and placing Human Resources leaders who drive organizational performance, culture, and business results. With more than 25 years of experience spanning executive search, human resources leadership, and education, Suzanne brings a unique perspective to assessing talent and advising clients on critical leadership hires.

Since joining Benson Executive Search in 2019, Suzanne has partnered with organizations ranging from emerging biotechnology companies to established global enterprises to recruit senior HR talent, including Chief Human Resources Officers, Chief People Officers, Human Resources Business Partners, Total Rewards leaders, Talent Acquisition executives, and Organizational Development professionals. She is known for her ability to build trusted relationships with candidates and clients, deeply understand organizational needs, and identify leaders who can successfully navigate growth, transformation, and growth.

Prior to her executive search career, Suzanne held Human Resources leadership roles with major financial services organizations, including Citi and JPMorgan Chase. As a Human Resources Director and Human Resources Business Partner, she supported business leaders through organizational change, talent management, workforce planning, employee relations, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness initiatives. Her foundation in corporate HR enables her to bring practical business insight and functional expertise to every search engagement.

In addition to her HR and recruiting experience, Suzanne is a certified teacher and served within the New Jersey public school system, where she further developed her passion for coaching, learning, and talent development. This blend of experience across business, education, and executive search gives her a distinctive ability to evaluate leadership capability and organizational fit.

Suzanne earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Secondary Education from Loyola University Maryland and a Master of Science in Human Resources and Organization Development from Manhattanville University.

An active member of TroopHR, Suzanne is deeply engaged in the Human Resources community and regularly participates in HR and life sciences industry conferences. She enjoys connecting leaders, sharing market insights, and staying current on emerging trends shaping the future of work, talent, and organizational effectiveness.

Outside of work, Suzanne enjoys playing pickleball, spending time with family and friends, traveling to coastal destinations, and caring for her Labrador retriever. She is passionate about lifelong learning, helping individuals achieve their career goals, and supporting organizations in building exceptional leadership teams.

Research Manager

Patricia Murphy

Patricia Murphy serves a Research Manager, where she supports the firm’s executive search teams, manages the candidate database, and helps ensure the successful execution of search engagements. 

Prior to joining Benson Executive Search, she spent more than a decade with the Ramsey Board of Education as a Special Education Paraprofessional and Substitute Teacher, developing strong organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills. 

Earlier in her career, she spent 17 years with Becton Dickinson Diagnostics, ICN Pharmaceuticals, and MP Biomedicals, advancing from Entry-Level Chemist to Production Supervisor. Throughout her tenure, she led teams of skilled professionals, oversaw multiple product lines, and maintained high standards of quality and operational excellence. 

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Muhlenberg College. Her diverse professional background in science, education, and executive search provides a unique perspective and strong operational expertise in supporting both clients and candidates. 

Outside of work, she enjoys golfing, playing paddle tennis, and spending time with her husband and grown son. 

Our Clients

Connect With Our HR Team

Looking for your next opportunity to shape an organizations future? Partner with Buffkin / Baker to find the people leaders who move your organization forward.

Contact Us
Top