North Highland Names New Chicago Leadership Team
The firm adds two veteran directors to scale its consulting operations and client relationships across the Chicago market.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Job Search
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North Highland has appointed Deb Morrison as its new Chicago market lead and Molly Stephens as senior director for business development. These leadership additions are part of the firm's strategic push to expand its footprint and client relationships in the Chicago market.
Why it matters
The firm is prioritizing localized expertise to scale its regional operations, signaling a broader push to capture market share through experienced executive leadership. These hires reflect a shift toward growing the local headcount to meet specific client service demands in the area.
North Highland currently operates with 1,500 employees across 17 offices globally, up from its original scale at its 1992 founding. The new leadership brings a combined 60 years of industry experience to the Chicago team.
The players
North Highland
An Atlanta-based management and technology consulting firm founded in 1992 with 1,500 employees globally.
Deb Morrison
The new managing director and Chicago market lead who brings three decades of consulting experience to the firm.
Molly Stephens
The newly appointed senior director for business development with nearly 30 years of experience in market growth.
Slalom
A consulting firm serving as the previous employer for both newly appointed North Highland leaders.
The details
Morrison will oversee the firm's Chicago expansion by focusing on scaling the local team, while Stephens will lead business development efforts to deepen regional client relationships. Both executives move to the firm from Slalom, bringing deep experience in management, technology, and market growth. This transition highlights a common strategy of utilizing veteran leadership to accelerate office growth and service-line penetration in competitive urban consulting markets.
Timeline
North Highland was founded in 1992.
Market Landscape
This move follows the documented trend of professional service firms deploying 'local-market growth strategies' to gain proximity to enterprise clients. The firm is following a standard industry path by recruiting established leaders from similar firms to shorten the time-to-market for new regional capabilities.
Operators in the Chicago area should monitor these leadership shifts as a signal of increased competition for professional services and talent in the region. Businesses looking for new consultants can expect a more aggressive sales presence from the firm as they scale their local office headcount.
The takeaway
When scaling a regional office, hiring veteran leadership with existing local market knowledge is a frequent strategy to accelerate growth. Operators should evaluate whether their own expansion plans rely on similar talent-based strategies or if they require different resources to effectively grow their presence.
Further reading
Explore deeper trends in regional professional growth at Job Search.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Consulting.
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