specialist recruitment for executive and personal assistants

Partnering with founders, business leaders and private clients to deliver discreet, carefully considered assistant placements.

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Employers
Candidates

a considered approach to recruitment, built on trust

Our mission is to build trusted, long-term relationships through a discreet and considered approach to recruitment. By grounding our process in a deep understanding of both leader and assistant, we ensure every placement is thoughtfully aligned and built to last.

our values

  • A person's hand with well-manicured nails is positioned against a light-colored, softly blurred background.

    Discretion

    Protecting interests through absolute confidentiality

  • A balanced stack of smooth, rounded stones on a pebble-covered surface, with a blurred background

    integrity

    Prioritising long-term fit over short-term outcomes

  • Close-up of a bee on a honeycomb wall, showing detailed features of the bee's head, thorax, and wings

    Respect

    Valuing time and ambition with total professionalism

  • Two hands holding a partially assembled jigsaw puzzle piece against a blurred outdoor background with trees.

    Alignment

    Ensuring roles work in practice, not just on paper

  • A soap bubble floating outdoors with a bokeh background of green and white leaves.

    Insight

    Taking the time for deep, thoughtful understanding

  • Multiple hands touching a tree trunk in a forest setting with green foliage

    Partnership

    Fostering enduring relations for lasting success

defining the role

Hiring at this level is a strategic decision. While responsibilities often overlap, understanding the distinction between each role helps ensure the right level of support and operational oversight for your environment

  • An Executive Assistant provides business-focused support to senior leaders, often acting as an extension of how they operate day to day.

    The role typically includes managing complex schedules, coordinating meetings and travel, and supporting business priorities. At a more senior level, this can extend to stakeholder management, project coordination, and involvement in decision-making processes.

    The focus is on enabling efficiency, protecting time, and ensuring the executive is able to operate effectively within a fast-paced environment.

    The success of this role often depends on selecting someone who can operate at the same level as the individual they support.

  • A Personal Assistant provides support that sits outside of core business responsibilities, focusing on day-to-day personal organisation.

    This can include managing diaries, appointments, travel, and personal errands. The role is centred around reducing the administrative load of daily life and ensuring things run smoothly on a practical level.

    In some cases, the role may overlap with business support, but the primary focus remains personal.

    Clarity on scope is essential, as this role can easily become misaligned without clear boundaries from the outset.

  • A Private PA supports an individual or family within a private household or lifestyle setting.

    Responsibilities often extend beyond diary and travel management to include overseeing household operations, coordinating staff, managing suppliers, and handling more complex personal requirements.

    The role requires a high level of discretion and adaptability, with a focus on ensuring the smooth running of both day-to-day life and longer-term arrangements.

    These appointments require careful consideration, as expectations are often broader and less clearly defined.

Many roles evolve beyond a single title. We work closely with each client to define support that reflects the demands of their world

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“I founded Amberstone Search on a single, core principle: that the foundation of great recruitment is the building of long-lasting relationships. The partnership between a leader and their assistant is one of the most vital connections in any organisation. It requires more than just a matching of skills; it requires a shared rhythm and absolute trust. At Amberstone Search, we provide a discreet and considered alternative to high-volume recruitment. We take the time to understand the nuances of every brief, ensuring that every placement we facilitate is not just a hire, but a partnership built to last”
— Gemma Tang, Founder