Steve Bell is a Managing Director at BarkerGilmore and Co-Chair of the Industrial and Manufacturing and Financial Services Search Practices. He is a trusted advisor to executive teams nationwide, partnering closely with organizations to identify and recruit senior legal and compliance leaders who can thrive in complex, highly regulated environments. Steve is widely regarded for his collaborative, candid, and thoughtful approach, as well as his ability to make even the most challenging searches feel engaging, human, and achievable.

Steve’s search experience spans global manufacturing, infrastructure and construction, energy and renewables, agriculture, and private equity-backed organizations, as well as financial institutions and other highly regulated entities. He began his career at BarkerGilmore within the Financial Services Group, where he developed a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and how regulators think, a perspective that continues to inform his work across industries. Clients value his keen eye for hard-to-find talent and his ability to uncover leaders with the judgment, resilience, and adaptability required in today’s most demanding roles.

Many of Steve’s clients return to partner with him on multiple searches, often relying on him to help build and scale legal and compliance functions from the top down. Known for being optimistic, energetic, and genuinely kind, Steve brings a unique blend of rigor and warmth to every engagement. He has a natural knack for understanding organizational culture and aligning the right personality, leadership style, and mindset with the realities of a company’s environment. Steve firmly believes that the right person exists for every role, which is why he is often drawn to the most challenging industries, locations, and niche or first-of-their-kind searches.

With a background in psychology, Steve approaches executive search with a nuanced understanding of what motivates individuals and what makes teams successful. He evaluates talent beyond credentials, carefully assessing cultural fit, values, and decision-making style alongside technical expertise. Steve is Hogan-certified and uses the assessment to gain insight into key motivators and how candidates think, lead, and operate, helping strengthen fit with clients. His clients and candidates alike appreciate his transparency, sense of humor, and genuine investment in long-term success, qualities that have made him a trusted partner and a consistent source of repeat business.

Steve earned a B.A. in Psychology from The State University of New York at Geneseo and an M.S. in Psychology and Human Motivation from the City University of New York.

Executive Search

Prior to joining BarkerGilmore, Steve was a search consultant at another firm, where he partnered with Fortune 500 and mid-size organizations on hiring strategy, team development, retention, and long-term growth planning. His work was focused primarily on financial services and manufacturing organizations, advising highly regulated companies on executive talent across operations, finance, and investor relations functions.

Steve holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science in psychology, a foundation that continues to shape his approach to executive search. He brings a rigorous focus on assessing fit, motivation, leadership style, and decision-making, enabling him to evaluate candidates beyond credentials and align individuals with the cultural, organizational, and regulatory realities of each client.

Throughout his career, Steve has successfully placed General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officers, Assistant General Counsel, Heads of Risk, and related senior legal and compliance leaders for Fortune 50 companies, venture-backed startups, private equity-backed organizations, and international enterprises. This breadth of experience gives him a practical understanding of how legal and compliance functions are built, scaled, and integrated within complex organizations.

Industrial, Private Equity, Financial