Management consulting firm Oliver Wyman has appointed Helen Leis to the newly created role of global head of leadership and change, according to a report from consulting.us.
Helen Leis will assume a new global leadership position, tasked with guiding clients through significant organizational transformation and uncertainty, while continuing as co-head of M&A in the Americas, a role she has held since March 2025. This appointment, according to the report, formalizes and embeds change management capabilities more deeply within the firm's broader consulting work.
What We Know So Far
- Oliver Wyman has named Helen Leis its global head of leadership and change, a position that consulting.us reports is newly created within the firm's structure.
- In this new capacity, Leis's primary focus will be on advising clients as they navigate complex organizational transformations and periods of high uncertainty.
- Leis will continue to serve as co-head of M&A in the Americas, maintaining her responsibilities in a key transactional practice area for the firm.
- A veteran of the firm, Leis has been with Oliver Wyman for 26 years and possesses more than three decades of experience advising organizations on transformation and change programs.
- Nick Studer, president and CEO of Oliver Wyman, stated that the creation of this role is a key component of the firm’s long-term strategy.
Oliver Wyman's Focus on Leadership and Change
Oliver Wyman CEO Nick Studer, in a statement reported by consulting.us, emphasized the strategic importance of the new global head of leadership and change role. He stated, "This role is key to advancing the firm’s long-term efforts to embed transformative leadership and change management capabilities across all our work, driving greater alignment, collaboration and impact." This establishes a formal emphasis on integrating these capabilities more deeply into client engagements, solidifying a key advisory area for the firm.
Helen Leis also provided a perspective on the challenges inherent in organizational change, grounded in her extensive experience. "I’ve spent three decades working with leaders navigating mergers, crises, and cultural overhauls. Every transformation tests the limits of an organization – but it also tests the limits of its leadership," Leis stated, according to consulting.us. She further elaborated on the characteristics of successful leadership during these periods. "The leaders who succeed aren’t those who avoid that tension, but those who use it to help their organizations grow. When that happens, change stops being disruptive, and starts becoming a source of strength." This perspective suggests a focus on the human and cultural dynamics of transformation, where leaders must develop emotional intelligence to manage organizational stress effectively.
Who is Helen Leis, Oliver Wyman's new global head?
Helen Leis, a partner at Oliver Wyman for 26 years, has built a career advising senior executives through complex, high-stakes situations involving large-scale organizational change. Her professional experience, spanning over 30 years, focuses on transformation, post-merger integration, and broad change management programs.
Since March 2025, Leis has served as co-head of M&A in the Americas, a position consulting.us confirms she will retain alongside her new appointment. This dual-hatted role places her at the intersection of transactional strategy and the organizational and leadership challenges that arise from mergers, acquisitions, and other major strategic shifts. Her background in these significant leadership roles provides direct insight into the practical difficulties leaders face when implementing profound change.
What We Know About Next Steps
The announcement did not specify a formal start date for Leis in her new global role. It was confirmed by consulting.us that she will perform the duties of the global head of leadership and change concurrently with her ongoing responsibilities as co-head of M&A in the Americas. No further details regarding the specific structure of the new global practice or timelines for its strategic initiatives have been publicly released by the firm at this time.
