North Highland Hires Two Industry Veterans in Chicago

The firm adds seasoned consulting leaders to expand its local market presence and client relationships.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Job Search

Isometric editorial illustration of an ascending architectural structure, representing business growth and organizational development in an urban setting. — North Highland has hired Deb Morrison and Molly Stephens as managing and senior directors, respectively, to bolster its leadership team in Chicago. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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North Highland has recruited Deb Morrison as managing director and Molly Stephens as senior director to bolster its Chicago office. Both executives join the firm from Slalom, bringing extensive experience in consulting and market development to the company's local team.

Why it matters

This leadership expansion represents a strategic investment by North Highland to accelerate growth and strengthen its professional network within the Chicago market.

Deb Morrison brings three decades of consulting experience, including 10 years at Slalom, while Molly Stephens adds nearly 30 years of business development expertise, including 17 years at the same firm. North Highland currently maintains a total workforce of approximately 1,500 employees.

The players

Deb Morrison

She is the new managing director and Chicago market lead for North Highland with three decades of consulting experience.

Molly Stephens

She joins as the senior director for business development at North Highland after nearly 30 years of market development work.

North Highland

This global consulting firm operates 17 offices and was founded in 1992.

Slalom

This is the firm where both Morrison and Stephens were previously employed.

The details

Morrison will lead the Chicago office and its local team, while Stephens will focus on building client relationships to drive regional growth. Both executives move to the role after long tenures at their previous employer.

North Highland was founded in 1992.

Market Landscape

This move reflects a broader competitive trend in the consulting sector where firms prioritize the recruitment of veteran leadership to capture local market share. By onboarding established talent, North Highland positions itself to challenge incumbents and scale its regional operations.

Local clients and business partners may see increased outreach and service engagement as the firm builds its Chicago team. The recruitment of these industry veterans suggests a push for more personalized service offerings for regional businesses.

The takeaway

Bringing on high-tenured leadership is a common strategy for firms looking to gain rapid credibility in a new or competitive market. Readers looking to navigate their own career growth can note how these executives leveraged long-term professional relationships to transition into leadership roles.