Lumina Search is proud to introduce you to our new group partner, AEM International
AEM International is a specialist search firm with an international track record in global search for creative and executive leaders in the arts, culture, live entertainment, and the creative industries.
Working at the highest level with Chairs and Boards of nationally and internationally renowned organizations, AEM International has a dedicated and bespoke search approach, which takes account of their clients’ unique organizational requirements and strategic ambitions.
The professional team is committed to presenting clients with qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds and is working with industry influencers towards increasing leadership placements from underrepresented communities in their field. The company has a strong track record in appointing women, LGBTQ+, and individuals from global majority backgrounds to C-level roles.
AEM International is led by founding Director Heather Newill and has built an unrivalled reputation over 25 years for extraordinary client support and service and for identifying and developing talented cultural leaders who go on to sustain high-profile careers.
Heather is supported by Senior Consultant Pippa Campbell, a hugely experienced specialist researcher, and a mainstay of the company since its inception in 2004. Heather has recently been joined by Deputy Managing Director, Helen Sprott, who brings personal experience and insight from a 30-year career in the cultural sector that spans recruitment, publishing, broadcasting, the record industry, orchestral management and public sector administration.
Heather Newill
Heather Newill, Director of AEM International, is an experienced search consultant specializing in placing senior personnel for the arts, entertainment and creative industries. In 1997 Heather was invited by A.T. Kearney to establish the UK Arts and Non-profit Division where she built up a successful and highly regarded practice.
She then moved to become Director of the Arts, Entertainment and Media Practice at Friedlander Sachs where she acquired executive talent for global entertainment corporations in addition to undertaking senior executive searches for leading arts organizations. In January 2004 Heather founded AEM International Ltd., Arts, Entertainment and Media Executive Search, to specialize in search for leaders in the arts and creative industries.
Heather has 20 years’ experience herself in senior level arts management and was formerly Concerts’ and Artists’ Manager of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Chief Executive of the Orchestra of St John’s and Festival Director of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. She has an outstanding understanding of the cultural, entertainment and media worlds and has substantial contacts internationally.
Helen Sprott
Helen Sprott, Senior Consultant, has been working in the arts and creative industries for 30 years. In her career to date she has been a Commissioning Editor, Music Books, at Faber & Faber; Commissioning Editor, Music & Performing Arts with C4 Television; Director, Music & Music Education with Arts Council England; and Chief Executive of the Philharmonia Orchestra. In addition to non-executive roles, Helen is an executive Director with new music label, NMC Recordings Ltd.
Helen was involved in many leadership appointments at Arts Council England. She has worked as a freelance search consultant since 2019 and as Senior Consultant for AEM International since April 2022, and has supported boards in recruiting to CEO positions with the Halle Orchestra, Academy of Ancient Music and Handel & Hendrix in London Museum. Helen is well networked across the music and arts sectors and brings in insight to search and recruitment, with personal experience of leading teams and delivering change from within large and complex institutions.
Pippa Campbell
Pippa Campbell, Senior Consultant, has been working in international executive search for over 18 years and specializes in assignments within the Arts and Entertainment fields. She has conducted high level searches within a wide range of geographic regions including the established markets of the UK, Western Europe, USA and Australasia as well as newer emerging markets, including the Middle East and Asia.
Pippa previously worked in the London office of A.T. Kearney Executive Search, where she partnered with Heather in the Arts Practice. She has been a Senior Consultant with AEM International since it was founded in 2004. Pippa trained at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance and obtained her BA (Hons) Dance Theatre from City University, London.
Lumina looks forward to working in collaboration with Heather and the AEM International team in the future.