Gary Payne is a Partner with Executive Search and Leadership firm Odgers Berndtson based in Houston where he focuses on leadership work related to the Industrial Practice, with a particular focus on Infrastructure, Transportation, Construction and Energy. In addition, he leads the firm’s U.S. Private Equity Practice, focusing on leadership development and search work for PE portfolio organizations.

Gary is a recognized and accomplished strategist and practitioner of focused specialized leadership development, emotional intelligence development and strategic search engagements and specializes in working with organizations undergoing significant organizational change. He also works with prominent private equity groups, helping them develop, on board and recruit senior level executives and directors for their portfolio companies as well as talented investment professional for their firms.

He was previously a Managing Partner with the boutique leadership development and executive search firm Allen Austin in Houston where he began his search career in 2007. Prior to that, he was Chairman & CEO for a Private Equity owned building products organization. In his early career, he had several roles with IBM where he consulted with Energy and Transportation companies.

Gary is a certified leadership coach and consults with executive leaders and their teams on issues relating to leadership effectiveness, emotional intelligence and team dynamics. He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin where he majored in Finance.