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North Highland, a global leader in change and transformation consultancy, announced the appointment of Stephen Ardill as Senior Managing Director and EMEA Regional Lead. Based in the firm’s Riyadh office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Ardill will spearhead strategic growth, client delivery, and talent development across the Middle East, with a focus on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Announcement Date: July 8, 2025, Atlanta, GA.
Role: Senior Managing Director and EMEA Regional Lead, based in Riyadh, KSA.
Responsibilities: Oversee sales, client delivery, and talent leadership in the Middle East.
Experience: Over 30 years in strategic and operational transformations at Kearney and EY.
Firm Profile: North Highland, founded in 1992, has $473M in revenue, 2,178 employees, and 70+ offices globally.
Market: $300B global management consulting market, 7% CAGR, with Middle East growth driven by Vision 2030.
Ardill’s appointment strengthens North Highland’s Middle East operations, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s economic diversification goals. He will drive client impact in sectors like public services, energy, and financial services, leveraging the firm’s expertise in AI, digital transformation, and organizational change. Anthony Shaw, EMEA CEO and Senior Managing Director, stated, “Steve is a brilliant leader with several decades of experience… he will help our clients solve their most complex challenges and develop our exceptional Saudi talent.”
With over 30 years of experience across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, Ardill brings a collaborative approach from senior roles at Kearney and EY, where he focused on strategy and business transformation. He noted, “Joining North Highland presents an exciting opportunity to combine my experience with the firm’s proven growth methodologies.”
North Highland, part of the Cordence Worldwide alliance with 3,500+ professionals, serves clients like Aramco and Emirates NBD. Its 2025 Financial Times UK Leading Management Consultants ranking reflects its ability to deliver measurable value. The firm’s recent acquisitions, including The Bridge (AI and cloud) and Profectus (public sector EMEA), bolster its capabilities. With $473M in revenue and 17 U.S. offices plus locations in Canada, the UK, and Romania, North Highland competes with MBB and Big 4 firms.
The Middle East consulting market, valued at $4.5B, is growing at 12% annually, driven by Saudi Arabia’s $1T Vision 2030 investments. Ardill’s leadership will enhance North Highland’s work with public and private sector clients, building on projects like digital transformation for UAE’s DEWA. Posts on X, like @northhighland, highlight Ardill’s appointment as a catalyst for innovation and local talent development.
Founded in 1992, North Highland helps businesses move from strategy to reality, taking a pragmatic and practical approach to build solutions that work and create impact that lasts. As the world’s leading change and transformation consultancy, our award-winning services – powered by a combination of talent and technology – turn client visions into real, measurable value.
With industry-leading client satisfaction ratings, North Highland’s methods and expertise are regularly recognized by the world’s leading analyst firms. We are a proud member of Cordence Worldwide, a global network of truly connected consultancy firms with the ability to think and deliver together. This means North Highland has more than 5,500 experts in 60+ offices around the globe on hand to partner with you.
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