About Christian & Timbers

Founder and Executive Search Leader

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Jeff Christian is the founder of Christian & Timbers, an executive search firm established to address the increasing complexity of senior leadership hiring in large, technology-driven organizations. From its inception, the firm was designed around the idea that executive recruitment should be treated as a disciplined business function rather than an informal, relationship-based process. With headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, and Amsterdam, Netherlands, Christian & Timbers developed an international presence while maintaining a consistent focus on thoughtful evaluation and long-term leadership alignment. Jeff Christian’s approach reflects a practical understanding that executive appointments influence strategy, culture, and performance for years to come. His work has consistently emphasized responsibility, clarity, and measured decision-making, particularly as organizations face rapid technological change, increased competition, and evolving expectations around leadership effectiveness.

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Applying Technology and Data to Executive Search

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A defining element of Jeff Christian’s leadership at Christian & Timbers has been the application of AI-powered technology and science-based data to the executive search process. These tools were introduced to help analyze large volumes of information related to experience, skills, leadership behavior, and career progression. The firm applied this approach to recruiting C-level executives, board members, and senior technology leaders across industries shaped by innovation, including e-commerce, SaaS, FinTech, IoT, and robotic manufacturing. Rather than replacing professional judgment, technology was used to support more consistent and informed decisions. This balance allowed organizations to understand leadership readiness and potential fit better, while still relying on direct assessment, interviews, and professional insight to evaluate whether candidates could manage complex responsibilities in demanding environments.

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Building a Scalable and Measurable Business Model

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Under Jeff Christian’s leadership, Christian & Timbers grew steadily and reached $100 million in annual revenue, reflecting sustained demand for its executive and board search services. The firm completed more than 2,000 CEO and board placements and filled over 5,000 C-suite roles by applying a data-driven model designed to improve both speed and accuracy. By focusing on clearly defined performance indicators and role-specific criteria, the firm reduced traditional hiring timelines from months to days without compromising evaluation depth. Jeff Christian was recognized as a high-performing CEO within the executive search industry, particularly for his focus on Silicon Valley and major global technology companies. His leadership approach emphasized transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes, reinforcing the view that executive hiring is a strategic investment that directly affects organizational performance and long-term stability.

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A Trusted Partner to the Technology Sector

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Christian & Timbers developed a strong reputation within the technology sector through its involvement in significant executive and board placements. The firm was responsible for placing Carly Fiorina at Hewlett-Packard, a milestone that demonstrated its ability to support leadership transitions at the highest levels of corporate leadership. It also conducted board member searches for Apple during Steve Jobs's tenure as CEO. Beyond these engagements, the firm worked with organizations such as Cisco, Google, Netflix, WebMD, and prominent technology investors. These relationships were built on a consistent philosophy that strong leadership is a primary driver of innovation and competitiveness. Jeff Christian’s work reinforced the belief that companies operating in fast-moving markets benefit from leaders who combine experience with adaptability, and from hiring processes that are transparent, structured, and aligned with long-term business objectives.

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Venture Capital Experience and Leadership Investment

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Jeff Christian’s focus on leadership extended beyond executive search through the creation of C&T Access Ventures in 2001, the investment arm of Christian & Timbers. The venture initiative was established to fund executive-led growth opportunities by providing seed capital, early-stage financing, and pre-IPO support to startups across the United States. The fund was guided by a clear investment philosophy centered on backing strong CEOs and executive changemakers rather than focusing solely on products or markets. With $40 million under management, the fund returned 5x its initial capital and supported several startups, including Upwork. Although C&T Access Ventures is no longer operational, its performance reflected Jeff Christian’s broader belief that leadership quality is a critical factor in business success, whether in established corporations or emerging companies.

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A Measured Approach to Industry Transformation

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Across his career, Jeff Christian has been recognized as an industry leader who applied technology, data, and disciplined analysis to modernize executive search while maintaining respect for professional judgment and human insight. His work at Christian & Timbers demonstrated that innovation in executive recruitment does not require abandoning experience-based evaluation, but rather strengthening it with better tools and more precise metrics. By combining structured data with thoughtful assessment, he helped organizations reduce risk in senior hiring decisions and improve alignment between leaders and business goals. Jeff Christian’s legacy reflects a steady, measured approach to industry transformation, grounded in the belief that whoever has the best talent is best positioned to succeed over the long term.