Barker brings 15 years of experience to the role, having previously founded and led the beauty and personal care practice at Lincoln International. Her background includes corporate finance and M&A advisory positions at The Estée Lauder Companies, Deutsche Bank, and Michel Dyens & Co. At Stout, she will focus on connecting the firm’s broader consumer platform with her established network of private equity sponsors and brand owners.

Dan Gomez, Head of Consumer Investment Banking at Stout, noted that the firm is prioritizing specialized industry knowledge to meet client demand for differentiated platforms. The appointment follows recent expansions in the firm’s Food and Beverage division, part of a wider initiative to build out sector-focused expertise across the entire consumer lifecycle. Barker intends to leverage her experience in scaling businesses to support Stout’s goal of providing targeted advisory services in an increasingly active market.