James Baker

James is the CEO and Co-Founder of Keynote Search. With 20 years of experience in the industry, James has successfully completed hundreds of executive searches on behalf of clients looking to upgrade or build out their executive leadership teams.

As the leader and figure head of the executive search team at Keynote Search, James has bolstered the company’s growth to most recently being named as one of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies by the Globe & Mail Report on Business in 2022. Previously under James’ leadership Keynote Search was named Best New Business in 2016 from the Ottawa Board of Trade, #1 on Ottawa’s Fastest Growing Companies List by the Ottawa Business Journal in 2018 and #4 in 2019. James has also been recognized for his innovative approach to executive search and industry leadership. He has earned his Forty Under 40 award, Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year award from the City of Ottawa in 2018, and was named Executive Search CEO of the Year in the 2021 Canadian Business Awards.

James prides himself on building the Keynote Search team with the best professionals in the industry and plays a key role in their success. From a community perspective James leads a number of philanthropic initiatives for Keynote Search as well as personally sits as the Co-Chair of the Talent Committee and Board Member for the Ottawa Board of Trade and is an active fundraiser for a number of organizations including 24h Tremblant and the CHEO Foundation.

James is also an active speaker, moderator and host for a number of industry conferences, webinars, and panels and presents the latest trends in executive search and talent landscape in North America.