By John Berg
In 1986, Jill Kelleher sat across from her first client—a lawyer from Marin County who wrote a check on the spot—and Kelleher International was born. Back then, people thought she made matchbook covers. No one had heard the term “matchmaker
Forty years later, we’ve facilitated thousands of marriages, celebrated countless love stories, and built something that has transformed lives across three continents. And we’re just getting started.
A Legacy Built on Love
What began at Jill’s kitchen table in Greenbrae grew into the world’s largest matchmaking firm—not through luck, but through an unwavering belief in something simple: that love matters more than anything.
Jill saw what others missed. While working as a photographer at a video dating service, she noticed that people chose dates based on photos rather than compatibility, and that high-profile professionals avoided dating services entirely because they couldn’t trust their privacy. She knew there had to be a better way.
That insight—that successful people deserved a confidential, personalized, and deeply human approach to finding love—became the foundation of everything we do.
When her daughter Amber joined the business and opened our Beverly Hills office in 1997, the mother-daughter partnership that would define Kelleher for decades was complete. Together, they built something extraordinary: a company where every client is treated as a life to transform, not a transaction to complete.
Honoring Amber
We cannot mark this milestone without acknowledging the profound loss of Amber Kelleher-Andrews earlier this year. For nearly thirty years, Amber poured her heart into this company and into every person she helped find love. Her warmth, her intuition, her genuine belief in the possibility of connection—these qualities touched everyone who knew her.
Amber’s spirit lives on in how we show up for you every single day. The standards she set, the care she modeled, the joy she found in every engagement and every wedding—that’s the inheritance we carry forward.
What Hasn’t Changed
In forty years, the world has transformed beyond recognition. Dating apps didn’t exist when Jill started. Neither did the internet. Yet some things remain exactly as they were on day one:
Our commitment to confidentiality. Your privacy is sacred. Period.
Our belief in human intuition. No algorithm can replace the insight of a skilled matchmaker who truly knows you.
Our standard of excellence. We accept fewer than 5% of those who inquire because we will never compromise on quality.
Our mission. We exist to transform lives through purposeful connection and love. That was true in 1986. It’s true today. It will be true in 2066.
What’s Ahead
Here’s what excites us most about this anniversary: the future.
We have the strongest team in our history. We have refined our process through four decades of learning. We have a global network of extraordinary people seeking meaningful partnership. And, we have a clarity of purpose that guides every decision we make.
The next forty years will bring changes we can’t predict. But our north star won’t waver. We will continue to be bold, to adapt, to listen to what you need—just as Jill and Amber always did. We will honor their legacy not by standing still, but by embodying how they built this company: with courage, with care, and with an absolute commitment to your happiness.
Thank You
To everyone who has been part of this journey—our clients, our couples, our team members past and present, and the families and friends who have referred loved ones to us—thank you.
You trusted us with something precious: your heart. That trust is never taken for granted.
To those of you who found your partner through Kelleher: your love stories are our greatest achievement. Every wedding invitation on our wall, every baby announcement, every anniversary photo—these are the reasons we do what we do.
To those of you still searching: we see you. We believe in your story. And we are honored to be part of writing it.
Here’s to the Next Chapter
Forty years ago, one woman with a vision changed the way successful people find love. Today, we carry that vision forward—stronger, more purposeful, and more excited about the future than ever.
Because the best love stories? They’re still being written.
Here’s to forty more years of transforming lives through purposeful connection and love.
With gratitude and optimism,
John Berg
Chief Executive Officer,
Kelleher International
Kelleher International was founded in 1986 by Jill Kelleher in Greenbrae, California. Today, we serve clients across North America and Europe from our headquarters in Montecito, California. To learn more about our 40th anniversary celebrations, contact your dedicated matchmaker or visit kelleher-international.com.
