Arts Consulting Group Finds New Leader for the San Francisco Jazz Organization
June 6, 2025 – Following an extensive nationwide search, Boston-based search firm Arts Consulting Group (ACG) has placed Gabrielle Armand as the new CEO of the San Francisco Jazz Organization (SFJAZZ). She will succeed Susie Medak, who has served as interim CEO since December 2024. Vice presidents Geoff Chang and Josyanne Roche led the assignment. In partnership with executive artistic director Terence Blanchard, Ms. Armand will lead the dynamic SFJAZZ team, ensuring that the organization’s mission is fulfilled in a financially sustainable and artistically excellent manner.
“I’m delighted to welcome Gabrielle to SFJAZZ,” said Mr. Blanchard. “She’s an outstanding leader with a deep understanding of the jazz world and a strong alignment with our mission-driven values. I’m excited to partner with her in advancing the vision and impact of SFJAZZ.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to have Gabrielle Armand join us as the new CEO for SFJAZZ,” said SFJAZZ board president Molly J. Coye. “The richness of her experience at Jazz at Lincoln Center combined with her life-long passion for the artform make her the perfect leader for us. In collaboration with executive artistic director Terence Blanchard, we are excited for the opportunities ahead as Gabrielle helps expand the reach of jazz regionally and nationally, while deepening our commitment to education and artist support.”
With over 30 years of experience within the entertainment industry, not-for-profit, and cultural arts landscapes, Ms. Armand has strategically designed and managed multi-layered partnerships with major global brands including Coca-Cola, MasterCard, P&G, Brooks Brothers, Disney, Bloomberg, HSBC, Qatar Airways, and General Motors. She joins SFJAZZ from Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City where she served as chief marketing officer & vice president brand, sales, and marketing, overseeing the marketing & sales, PR & communications, corporate partnerships & sponsorships, audience development, content development, creative services, and intellectual property teams.
In her role at SFJAZZ, Ms. Armand will oversee all aspects of the organization’s business functions, including education, finance, contributed and earned revenue, business operations, as well as support artistic vision and programming. In partnership with Mr. Blanchard, she will lead the dynamic SFJAZZ team, ensuring that the organization’s mission is fulfilled in a financially sustainable and artistically excellent manner.
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“I’m excited and honored to take on this role at SFJAZZ and to make San Francisco my new home,” said Ms. Armand. “I have long admired this organization’s profound impact on the local and national arts community and the countless musicians it has presented and supported. Jazz has been a guiding principle for much of my life, both personally and professionally, and I look forward to continuing to expand audiences for this uniquely American music and celebrate its ongoing contributions to the global cultural landscape.”
Founded in 1983 by former executive artistic director Randall Kline, the San Francisco Jazz Organization (SFJAZZ) is a recognized international leader in jazz creation, presentation, and education. Exploring the full spectrum of jazz performance from the music’s origins to present-day expressions, SFJAZZ’s mission is to develop jazz audiences in the Bay Area and beyond by celebrating jazz as a living, constantly evolving art form.
Serving the Arts and Culture Industries
Arts Consulting Group provides interim management, executive search, revenue enhancement consulting, facilities and program planning, and organizational development services for the arts and culture industry. The firm has identified senior-level leaders for the Long Beach Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Chicago Opera, Stockton Symphony Association and Portland Baroque Orchestra, among others. The firm has offices in Boston; Calgary; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Halifax; Los Angeles; Nashville, TN; New York; Portland, OR; San Francisco; Tampa, FL; Toronto; and Washington, D.C.
Bruce Thibodeau founded ACG in 1997 and has been part of numerous projects in all practice areas to grow institutional sustainability, advance the arts and culture sector, and enhance communities served by the industry. Dr. Thibodeau has guided hundreds of non-profit, university and government clients in achieving effective leadership transitions, planning cultural facilities, increasing revenues, developing dynamic institutional brands and messages, crafting strategic plans and business models, and revitalizing board governance practices.
Mr. Chang brings a rich background of experience within the arts and culture industries, specifically within the dance sector. He serves as ACG’s executive search practice leader and has guided various executive search and strategic planning initiatives for numerous clients throughout North America. Mr. Chang most recently served as general manager at the Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn.
Ms. Roche has a wealth of experience in organizational development and talent cultivation, and recruitment. She has devoted her career to helping clients find senior leaders to meet their needs and in establishing strong, equitable, and diverse teams. Her areas of expertise include client engagement, project management, candidate development, and research spanning across higher education, non-profit, arts and culture, healthcare, and government sectors.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
