Search Associates Appoints New President

With enthusiastic support of all 18 Senior Associates and the Executive Management Committee (EMC) of Search Associates, Jessica Magagna was appointed President of the company effective September 15, 2013. Former President Jim Ambrose, who decided to step down, will continue to be an integral part of Search Associates focusing on Head of School searches and Board Consulting.

Jessica started with Search Associates in 2002 as a Senior Associate working with candidates from the Northeast. Prior to accepting this position, she had a long and very successful career as senior management in the retail industry, specializing in recruitment and training of high level management candidates. This experience has allowed her make a smooth transition into her role as Senior Associate.

In 2009, when the Executive Management Committee (EMC) was formed to manage Search Associates, Jessica was appointed as Vice President and then Executive Vice President in 2011. During her time on the EMC, Jessica was solely responsible for the development and project management of the company’s new website, which launched in 2011. She continues to be in charge of all web development and was recently responsible for a new searchassociates.com website which was unveiled last month. In addition, she has been instrumental in overhauling all company marketing efforts as well as numerous improvements to the company’s policies and procedures.

A “third culture kid,” Jessica was born in Morocco while her father was Head of the American School of Tangier. After spending five years in Morocco, Jessica’s family returned to the U.S and later moved to Iran, where she attended the American Community School in Tehran. She has traveled extensively through Indonesia and Singapore, while her father was head of Jakarta International School, as well as through Europe, the Middle East and parts of South America. When asked to comment on her new role as President, Jessica had this to say,

“I feel very honored and excited to be such an integral part of a company that has unparalleled success in what it does. With this appointment, I also carry a deep sense of commitment since my father started this company almost 25 years ago, and has worked tirelessly to make it what it is today. My goal is to make sure that Search Associates sticks to its core value, which is to provide outstanding service to our candidates and schools abroad through continuing to give exceptional personal attention to all.”

Although Jessica will be taking on a full set of responsibilities as President, she will continue to work with candidates as well as manage the Cambridge job fair. With the support of our many dedicated and highly competent colleagues, Search Associates will be in very good hands and poised for continued progress with Jessica at the helm.