Kirby Bates Associates
Kirby Bates Associates is a US retained executive search firm specializing exclusively in healthcare leadership, placing C-suite executives, nurse leaders, and interim executives for hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, and PE-backed physician groups, operating as part of the Jackson Healthcare family.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersOrlando, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Kirby Bates Associates does
Kirby Bates Associates (KBA) is a US-based retained executive search firm specializing exclusively in healthcare leadership. Founded in the late 1980s/early 1990s and headquartered with ties to Orlando, Florida and Georgia, the firm places C-suite executives, including CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, CNOs, and other senior leaders, into hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, and physician practice management groups across the United States. Its core service offering comprises four pillars: Healthcare Executive Search, Nurse Executive Search, Interim Leadership, and Executive Advisory Solutions, augmented by post-placement Executive Integration Support and the Nurse Executive Gateway to Knowledge development program.
The firm operates as a subsidiary within the Jackson Healthcare family of companies and integrated Tyler & Company into its operations, broadening C-suite coverage. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales: direct outreach to healthcare system boards, CEOs, and HR leadership, supported by thought-leadership content, a quarterly cadence of research publications (including a 179-leader triad leadership survey with Jackson Physician Search), conference speaking at ASHHRA, NAHCR, CHIME, and HIMSS, and a newsletter funnel. Customer logos include Mass General Brigham, Memorial Hermann Health System, CommonSpirit Health, City of Hope National Medical Center, Cook County Health, and UCSF Children's Hospital.
Revenue mechanics are classic retained search: success-fee and retainer-based engagements, custom-priced by scope and role complexity, with multi-year client relationships. The firm reports a 92% client return rate, frames itself as the recognized leader in healthcare executive search, and was named to the Philadelphia Business Journal's 2026 list of Top Retained Search Firms. There is no disclosed use of artificial intelligence; the firm's proprietary assets are its 30-plus-year network of passive healthcare executive candidates and its internal candidate database.
Kirby Bates Associates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kirby Bates Associates
- Legal name
- Kirby Bates Associates, LLC
- Website
- https://kirbybates.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kirby Bates Associates is a US retained executive search firm specializing exclusively in healthcare leadership, placing C-suite executives, nurse leaders, and interim executives for hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, and PE-backed physician groups, operating as part of the Jackson Healthcare family.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kirby Bates Associates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Healthcare Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Executive Outplacement (C-Suite & Senior Leaders) (BPACAOAC)
Keywords
Where Kirby Bates Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Orlando
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kirby Bates Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Retained Executive Search: Retained search fees for healthcare executive placement. The company works closely with healthcare organizations to understand their needs and delivers a slate of highly qualified candidates within 30 days. This is the primary revenue stream.
- Interim Leadership Services: Provides seasoned interim healthcare executives to provide stability during leadership transitions and vacancy periods.
- Executive Advisory Solutions: Executive coaching and leadership development services including the Nurse Executive Gateway to Knowledge® program for developing healthcare executives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom executive search engagements - pricing based on scope and role complexity |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Kirby Bates Associates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kirby Bates Associates is a retained executive search and advisory firm that exclusively serves U.S. healthcare organizations. It identifies, recruits, and places C-suite and nurse executive leaders (CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, CNOs), provides interim leadership during transitions, and delivers executive coaching and leadership development through its Executive Advisory Solutions, all driven by a proprietary candidate database and 30+ year national network of passive healthcare executives.
Product overview
Kirby Bates Associates is a retained healthcare executive search firm offering a unified suite of services centered on identifying, recruiting, and developing healthcare leadership. The core portfolio includes Healthcare Executive Search, Nurse Executive Search, Interim Leadership, and Executive Advisory Solutions. Tyler & Company has joined the firm, expanding capabilities across all C-suite roles. Supporting services include Executive Integration Service (post-placement support) and Nurse Executive Gateway to Knowledge (leadership development program). The company operates exclusively in healthcare, serving hospitals, health systems, and physician practice management groups nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Healthcare Executive Search Retained executive search service for healthcare organizations to identify and recruit C-suite and strategic service line leaders, including CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, and other executive positions across hospitals and health systems.
- Nurse Executive Search Specialized executive search service focused on identifying and placing nurse executives including Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs), Vice Presidents of Nursing, and other senior nursing leadership roles for healthcare organizations.
- Interim Leadership Provides interim executive leaders who can quickly fill leadership vacancies, deliver organizational stability, and assist with transition periods while permanent searches are conducted.
- Executive Advisory Solutions Advisory and consulting services including executive coaching, leadership development, and transition support to help healthcare organizations and leaders develop competencies and achieve organizational goals.
- Executive Integration Service Post-placement support service that helps new executive leaders integrate and assimilate into client organizations through scheduled follow-ups, assessments, and consultations.
- Nurse Executive Gateway to Knowledge Structured leadership development program for nurse executives that combines executive education, competency assessment, and individualized advising, showing competency improvements particularly in financial management (+37%).
Quantifiable outcome
- 92% of clients return for multiple engagements
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Kirby Bates Associates
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kirby Bates Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Kirby Bates Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Tyler & CompanycoreTyler & Company has joined Kirby Bates Associates, expanding their capabilities to serve clients and candidates across all C-suite roles. This merger strengthened KBA's position in healthcare executive search, combining Tyler & Company's C-suite expertise with KBA's nursing and clinical leadership focus.
- Jackson Physician SearchcorePartnership with Jackson Physician Search to conduct industry research on triad leadership. Jointly surveyed 179 healthcare leaders to examine how triad leadership is reshaping performance, culture, and executive alignment. Combines KBA's executive search expertise with Jackson Physician Search's physician recruitment capabilities.
- Jackson HealthcarecoreKirby Bates Associates operates as part of the Jackson Healthcare family of companies. Jackson Healthcare is a healthcare staffing and search firm that acquired Tyler & Company (which later merged into KBA). The site explicitly notes products and services are provided by subsidiaries, not by Jackson Healthcare LLC directly.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights6 records
Kirby Bates Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WittKieffer: One of the most direct competitors — a retained executive search firm exclusively focused on healthcare, higher education, and not-for-profit leadership. Matches KBA on vertical specialization, retained search model, and target buyer (health system CEOs, boards, HR leaders).
- Cejka Search: Healthcare-specialized executive search firm serving hospitals, health systems, and physician groups with retained C-suite and physician leadership search. Directly comparable in target market, retained model, and vertical focus.
- B.E. Smith (AMN Healthcare): Healthcare-focused executive search and interim leadership firm, now part of AMN Healthcare. Directly overlaps with KBA on C-suite healthcare search, interim leadership, and advisory services.
- Jackson Physician Search: Sister company within the Jackson Healthcare family focused on physician and advanced practitioner recruitment for health systems. Adjacent offering with shared parent; jointly conducts research and cross-references clients, making it a natural partner rather than pure competitor, but overlapping go-to-market.
Broad incumbents
- Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Healthcare Practice placing CEOs, CMOs, and other C-suite leaders across health systems and life sciences. Competes with KBA on the largest healthcare mandates but serves a much broader set of industries.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with a sizable Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice serving providers, payers, and biopharma. Overlaps with KBA on retained C-suite healthcare search but with broader industry coverage and international reach.
- Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with an established Healthcare practice offering executive search, leadership development, and advisory. Competitor on healthcare C-suite mandates; broader portfolio creates cross-sell but dilutes vertical specialization.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a Healthcare Services Practice placing leaders across health systems, payers, and services organizations. Comparable on retained healthcare search but with broader geographic and industry coverage.
- AMN Healthcare: Large healthcare staffing and workforce solutions company owning B.E. Smith and other healthcare talent brands. Competes with KBA via its executive search and interim leadership offerings and provides scale and capital backing that a standalone firm like KBA lacks.
Emerging players
- DHR International: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Healthcare & Life Sciences practice serving providers, payers, and medtech. Comparable retained model and C-suite scope but smaller healthcare footprint than KBA at the top end.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses2 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kirby Bates Associates social profiles
Digital presenceKirby Bates Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kirby Bates Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Kirby Bates Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kirby Bates Associates M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kirby Bates Associates
What does Kirby Bates Associates do?
Kirby Bates Associates is a retained executive search and advisory firm that exclusively serves U.S. healthcare organizations. It identifies, recruits, and places C-suite and nurse executive leaders (CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, CNOs), provides interim leadership during transitions, and delivers executive coaching and leadership development through its Executive Advisory Solutions, all driven by a proprietary candidate database and 30+ year national network of passive healthcare executives.
Is Kirby Bates Associates a public or private company?
Kirby Bates Associates is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Kirby Bates Associates founded?
Kirby Bates Associates was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kirby Bates Associates based?
Kirby Bates Associates is headquartered in Orlando, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kirby Bates Associates make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Retained Executive Search is the primary driver. The others are interim Leadership Services and executive Advisory Solutions.
Who are Kirby Bates Associates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WittKieffer, Cejka Search, B.E. Smith (AMN Healthcare) and Jackson Physician Search. Broad incumbents are Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles, Korn Ferry, Russell Reynolds Associates and AMN Healthcare. DHR International is listed as an emerging player.
Does Kirby Bates Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kirby Bates Associates.
What industry is Kirby Bates Associates in?
Kirby Bates Associates's product category is Healthcare Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAK, Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search, with a secondary code of BPACAOAC, Executive Outplacement (C-Suite & Senior Leaders). Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.