Jean Allen is the Former Partner and Head of the Global Communications Practice at Heidrick & Struggles. Based in New York, Jean is a highly specialized leadership advisor who spent 15 years at the helm of the firm’s communications search business. Her expertise is uniquely informed by her "practitioner-first" background, having spent the first half of her career as a senior communications executive at global powerhouses such as The Walt Disney Company and Kimberly-Clark. Jean’s practice redefined the communications function for the modern era, viewing it through a broad lens of "connectivity and impact." She advised boards and CEOs on the integration of Corporate Affairs, Public Affairs, and Marketing, helping them navigate the increasingly complex intersection of brand reputation, investor sentiment, and employee advocacy. Her clients spanned the spectrum from Fortune 500 stalwarts to high-growth, "game-changing" firms seeking to establish their first sophisticated communications infrastructures. A veteran of the talent industry, Jean also served as the Head of Professional Recruiting and Executive Search at Merrill Lynch. In this role, she managed all recruiting activity for the firm’s core North American businesses and led an internal executive search function responsible for C-suite and senior-level appointments. This experience gave her a rare "dual perspective"—understanding both the external search firm model and the internal talent requirements of a global financial services giant. Jean holds a Master’s in Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor's degree from Eckerd College. Her deep background in both education and high-stakes corporate communications allows her to assess leaders not just for their technical "output," but for their ability to coach teams and drive cultural change within large-scale organizations. Key Leadership & Strategic Pillars The Communications Architect: Expert at designing "expanded portfolios" where communications, marketing, and public affairs are integrated to maximize a company’s narrative impact. Practitioner-to-Partner Transition: Leverages a decade of experience as a Communications Director and VP to provide candidates and clients with authentic, industry-specific insight. Financial Services Talent Strategist: Deeply familiar with the rigorous talent demands of Wall Street, stemming from her senior-level recruiting leadership at Merrill Lynch. Global Functional Expert: One of the industry's primary authorities on how communications profiles adapt to different organizational environments, from creative media to industrial manufacturing. Firm Profile (Heidrick & Struggles) Leadership in Communications: The firm’s Global Communications Practice is a leader in identifying the "new breed" of Chief Communications Officers (CCOs) who act as strategic advisors to the CEO and Board. Holistic Advisory: Beyond search, Heidrick focuses on how the communications function can drive business results through better stakeholder alignment and crisis preparedness. Elite Network: With a history spanning over 70 years, the firm maintains access to an unparalleled network of top-tier corporate affairs and marketing talent worldwide.