Jonathan (Jay) B. Santamaria
Published: ;
President and Chief Executive Officer
Jay brings a wealth of experience to executive search and human resources consulting as a result of more than twenty-five years in diverse executive positions including key roles at RJR Nabisco and International Telephone and Telegraph’s (IT&T) Continental Baking Company. Mr. Santamaria has a proven track record in organizational design, business process re-engineering, cultural re-orientation, negotiations, executive coaching and management development and training. He has recruited, developed and mentored senior operating managers and executives in the US and abroad. He is recognized by colleagues and peers as a thoughtful and insightful resource when business-driven strategies and real world implementations are required.
Mr. Santamaria last served as Vice President, Sales, Trade Marketing and Human Resources for Nabisco, S.A., Mexico. In addition to leading the effort to identify and secure "in country" executives for the long term, he led a team of hand-picked expatriates in the development and restructuring of Nabisco's newly acquired portfolio of businesses. Included in these efforts were the design and implementation of a new corporate structure, an operational rationalization, the introduction of supply chain principles and the design and execution of a comprehensive sales and trade marketing strategy. This successful turnaround plan resulted in a reversal of losses ($21MM annualized) over a two-year period and set the stage for profitability in year three.
Previously, at Nabisco, he was Corporate Vice President of Human Resources and Administration, responsible for Nabisco, Inc. In addition to his responsibilities for Organizational Development, Corporate Compensation, Planning, Staffing and Diversity, he oversaw the HR functions for Corporate Engineering, Strategic Sourcing, IT and R&D. He also served as Vice President, Human Resources for the Nabisco Foods Company, a $2.8 billion warehouse-delivered specialty food company, and several of the company’s other operating entities, including Nabisco’s $3.0 billion sales and integrated logistics company, an organization designed to maximize sales, trade marketing and supply chain effectiveness using broker, direct, distributor and specialty sales applications in all trade classes.
Mr. Santamaria joined The Beam Group in 1996 to establish the New Jersey office and develop a search practice focused on his areas of expertise and has built it to its current level of success. His clients include some of the nation’s largest and most recognized consumer products, pharmaceutical and service companies. He has also been very active in search and development projects for smaller entrepreneurial organizations. In 2000, he took on an active role in the further development of BeamPines' rapidly growing consulting practice. He is a Managing Director of True North of Toronto, Ltd., a Canadian leadership development company which he acquired in 1999, and plans on integrating its core training mission with the programs and resources of BeamPines Inc.
Mr. Santamaria graduated from Lafayette College in 1971 and has continued his training in labor relations, diversity, finance, compensation, incentive design, supply chain management, and strategic sourcing. He frequently alternates between his New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia offices, but can best be reached at (908) 713-1909. He lives in Hunterdon County, New Jersey with his wife and four daughters.
Email: jsantamaria@beampines.com