North Highland, which has grown from humble Atlanta roots to more than 3,000-member global consulting firm with 60-plus offices around the world, is set to have a new CEO for the first time in more than 20 years.
Last month, Dan Reardon, the founder and longtime chief executive, announced that he would relinquish the role to Alex Bombeck, managing director and group president. The appointment is effective in January.
Mr. Reardon, who also founded the consultancy network Cordence, a group of 25 autonomous member firms around the world, will transition to executive chairman of the North Highland’s board, confident in the leadership capabilities he’s seen Mr. Bombeck display in the eight years they’ve worked together.
Before joining North Highland, Mr. Bombeck was the chief digital officer at Havas Worldwide, a global advertising and communications agency. Leading client-facing operations at North Highland, he has worked to ensure that the firm’s data, digital strategy and design thinking are woven together to help solve client challenges arising due to change.
“We’re committed to helping clients build the competencies they need to take advantage of the radical change we’re experiencing now that will continue for years to come,” Mr. Bombeck said in a news release.
North Highland’s own leadership transition comes as companies are reimagining their hiring strategies and modes of working in light of the upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which shifted many companies to remote work, worsened labor shortages in key sectors and forced a wave of resignations.
The board recognized Mr. Reardon for his steadfast leadership and expressed confidence in Mr. Bombeck’s ability to help the company continue cultivate its own culture while helping organizations through their transformations. In a LinkedIn post citing the release, the founder said he was delighted to let Mr. Bombeck take the reins, giving him “more time to have fun.”
