Our Mission & Values
Bell Oaks Executive Search partners with businesses to attract and hire exceptional, culturally aligned, hard-to-find talent to fill high-level roles that are vital to the organization’s strategic goals.
Our objective is to be the premier search firm in the country by: elevating our clients’ organizations through partnership and successful execution; positively impacting the lives of the candidates we represent; and selflessly serving our Bell Oaks colleagues and our community as we foster a company culture of honesty, integrity and trust.
Our Story
Founded by Price “Preston” Harding, Jr. and his wife Shirley in Atlanta, Georgia, Bell Oaks Executive Search has been a leader in the executive search industry for over 50 years. Their son, Price Harding, began working for the firm in 1989 and helped shape the foundation to what it is today, with a focus on relationship-centric values, dedication to the community and an exceptional reputation for alignment of leadership talent. Price retired as Chairman at the end of 2020 and continues to be a trusted friend and supporter of the company he and his parents built.
Today, Bell Oaks’ guiding principles are still what set us apart from other search firms. We continue to keep the primary focus on people, including our employees, the clients we serve and the candidates we work with. Bell Oaks has been honored to receive accolades over the years, including being named on the Inc. 5000 list, being recognized as a Best Place to Work, and as Forbes' Best Recruiter in Executive Search.
In The Community
Since our founding, we have been dedicated to community service as the cornerstone for building a business of substance and compassion. The firm and its employees strive to make our neighborhoods better and healthier places to live, work and do business. We consider it our privilege and responsibility to pursue a better life for the people we encounter each and every day.
Mirroring Bell Oaks’ core values, our charitable endeavors are centered on the passions and interests of our team members, who drive our giving – whether through time or money – based on the pursuits that motivate them.
To learn about each of these amazing organizations, click the logos.
The Lori Swope Development Fund
Lori Swope was a continual learner and loved to challenge herself. Mid-career, she changed her professional focus entirely, moving from compensation and benefits consulting to executive search with Bell Oaks. Lori studied voraciously, seeking council from mentors and peers, attending conferences, researching the latest trends, and always learning from her experiences. She viewed her career as a vehicle to serve and foster the professional development of others, both within Bell Oaks and her community.
Inspired by her tenacity and desire to always expand both her knowledge and that of others, The Lori Swope Development Fund was established by the Leadership Team of Bell Oaks Executive Search to enhance personal development and additional professional training for the other incredible members of the Bell Oaks team. Lori Swope embodied what it means to pay it forward. We are proud to say her legacy of giving back and developing others will continue through The Lori Swope Development Fund.