Cordence Worldwide has named Steve Haymon, a Vice President at North Highland, as its new Managing Director.
In the role, Philadelphia-based Haymon leads a global consulting network with more than 5,100 consultants in 25 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. He succeeds Andrew Keene, who led the network for the past years and has played an instrumental role in growing its footprint to its current size today.
Cordence Worldwide was first conceptualised in 2004 when North Highland – one of the larger management consulting firms in North America – tied an alliance with Oresys, a leading French consultancy. Since then, Cordence’s membership has grown to include Alfa Consulting, Bonfiglioli Consulting, Horváth & Partners, TwynstraGudde and Valcon in Europe, Avalon Consulting, Genex Partners, Key To Way, and S.POINT in Asia, and State of Matter in Oceania.
All member firms are independent consultancies and collaborate on business development, key accounts, project delivery and thought leadership, maintaining their autonomy, but share a common approach to serving clients and a similar culture. “Firms commit to help one another thrive in their respective markets,” explained Haymon.
The American brings over twenty-five years of experience in business and technology consulting to the role. He has been at North Highland for over 16 years, and is specialised in business transformation, performance improvement, customer experience and digita transformation services, with a focus on clients in the life sciences, communications, retail and manufacturing industries.
Commenting on his new challenge, Haymon said that he looks forward to continue building the Cordence Worldwide brand, and help members firms navigate the evolving consulting landscape. “What our clients expect from their consulting partners has changed. The way we bring expertise and deliver consulting services must change, as well.”
He added that he believes Cordence Worldwide member firms are well positioned to embrace the ‘new normal’ in consulting, on the back of its agile operating model combined with the breadth and depth of major consulting firms. “We have the ability to quickly and creatively assemble new ideas, real experience and the right resources to help clients capitalise on an opportunity – anywhere in the world.”
Meanwhile, outgoing Managing Director Keene – a former partner at Litmus, Capgemini Invent and EY Consulting in Australia – has placed his faith in Haymon, stating “I am delighted to hand the role on to Steve Haymon. I am confident he will take the organisation to the next level.”
Having broken the news on LinkedIn, Keene and Haymon have been overwhelmed by likes and congratulatory messages from current and former colleagues, including from Andrew Stainsby, who worked with both leaders during his time at North Highland and Cordence Worldwide and now is the CEO of a boutique consultancy; Frank van Es, the CEO at TwynstraGudde; Alex Lal, a Director at State of Matter; Premchand Chandrasekharan, a partner at Avalon Consulting; Florent Daniel, a partner at Oresys; and Gert Hemmingsen, a senior partner at Valcon.
According to Consultancy.org, Cordence Worldwide is one of the globe’s top 20 consulting firms in terms of track record at clients.