Meet Our Leaders.

Murray Lee
Managing Partner
​978.740.3932 x402

Karen Bradford
​Managing Partner
 978.740.3932 x403

Jacqueline Franklin
Director of Coaching Services
978.740.3932 x404

Murray is the founder of Next Exec and an active managing partner. His focus is on client development and key leadership searches for the Senior Living and Retail industries.

Murray launched the firm in 2004 to provide traditional and innovative executive search services to retail clients. Later that year, he was approached by a chain of skilled nursing homes seeking a better relationship and fresh approach to recruiting. In the years since, Murray and his team have completed hundreds of executive and management searches in the Retail and Senior Living industries.

Previously, Murray was a Senior Account Executive with Management Recruiters International where he grew a retail portfolio. This followed a thirteen-year, progressive career path in multi-unit management for national retail chains. 
 
Murray has been an active member of numerous local organizations including the North Shore Networking Group and the Salem Jobseekers Networking Group. He currently serves on the Board of the Salem Arts Association and the Board of his local Toastmasters chapter. 
 
Murray earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications from Syracuse University. 

Karen is an active managing partner at Next Exec. She joined the organization in 2005 and excels at partnering with key accounts in the Senior Living and Retail industries.
 
Previously, Karen founded 
à la main and cultivated a handbag manufacturing business. For 13 years, 
à la main distributed merchandise through retail & wholesale channels and flourished with sales reps across the United States. Karen’s extensive experience owning her own business enables her to intuitively understand and empathize with the challenges that companies experience as they strive to hire the most talented executives. This results in Karen’s track record of attracting and helping companies to secure the finest executive talent.
 
Karen revels in watching her clients improve their well-being and prosperity thanks in part to her executive search efforts. She has also found it to rewarding to help unemployed members of the Salem Jobseekers Networking Group become employed. Karen enjoys contributing to the development of members’ communication skills in her role as President of the local Toastmasters Club.
 
Karen earned her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from
Boston University.
​

Jacqueline leads our executive and leadership coaching practice. In doing so, she brings years of strategic and practical business experience with start-ups and global companies and her enthusiasm for helping leaders, teams, and organizations perform to their full potential. To help companies maximize retention, Jacqueline works with "C" suite, senior, and high potential leaders to help them achieve more and improve personal and team satisfaction.

Jacqueline specializes in helping leaders improve their skills in the areas of communication, decision making, time management, emotional intelligence, and cross functional collaboration through one-on-one coaching and leadership development workshops. She also helps company leaders look to the future and to optimize their talent and succession planning strategies.

Jacqueline has an MBA and a bachelor's degree in social work and psychology. She is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC), having completed her training from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching, accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Jacqueline is also certified as an Energy Leadership Index-Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) and in the Hogan, a predictive assessment used to help company leaders assess employee fit.

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I've had several opportunities over the past few years to utilize Murray's sourcing and recruiting talents for particularly challenging roles. I highly recommend him. He delivers the results that he promises!

N.J., Boston, MA

Boston, MA

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​I am very pleased to recommend the services of Next Exec. We engaged Next Exec for a search to hire an administrator. Prior to engaging Next Exec, we had used other professionals and done our own search for over two years with no viable candidates. Murray’s work to secure a viable candidate was comprehensive and thorough. He provided sound advice and suggestions throughout the search. In short, we are very pleased with the service and the outcome. I would recommend Next Exec without reservation.

C.G., Nantucket, MA

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We have had a heck of a year.  Thanks in large part to you and Next Exec, we have opened 8 new
locations.  You all did a great job for us.  I would never have committed to such an aggressive schedule if I
had not had confidence in your capabilities.  I want to thank you and Karen and everyone in your company
for helping us take advantage of all the opportunities we have had.”  

C.H., Brentwood, TN

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It was a pleasure dealing with such a great professional such as yourself and I am truly grateful.

E. K., New York, NY

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Thank you so much for your guidance, advice, and insight - I really can't thank you enough! 

S.A., Pittsburgh, PA

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​…the best part is Amy.  I think she will be great! 

L. S., Boise, ID

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​We are sincerely grateful for your facilitation of this hiring opportunity.  

C. T., Salem, MA

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Thanks for everything.  Ken and I are very pleased with both of your recruits.  

L. S., Chicago, Il

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Karen, you helped me last year in recruiting Roberta.  She is still with me and is
my most valued asset!  I can’t thank you enough!  

J. K, Louisville, KY

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