Esther McMorris steps down as leader of Nine Feet Tall

Founder and CEO Esther McMorris has announced she will steps down from the leadership of Nine Feet Tall, after more than two decades at the head of the organisation. The firm will now be co-led by Dave Durrant and Tiggy McCool.

Commenting on her departure, Esther McMorris said, “I am immensely proud of all we have achieved and this has not been an easy decision to make. These past 20 years are only the start for Nine Feet Tall, which is a truly a special place, with an amazing team and an impressive client list. With a clear strategy, a strong, ambitious and driven team, along with true commitment to our clients, I am confident Nine Feet Tall’s next chapter will be even more exciting, so don’t put the book down yet!”

During McMorris’ tenure, Nine Feet Tall has supported hundreds of clients on their change management, digital transformation and business optimisation projects. The team has grown to over 50 employees in Nine Feet Tall’s home city of Bath, as well as opening offices in London and Manchester – catering to a client list including the likes of Sainsbury’s, Pets at Home, Weetabix, Diageo, Harrods and St John Ambulance.

In 2024, Nine Feet Tall joined the Talan Group, broadening the solutions the firm offers for clients’ digital transformation problems.

As the firm looks to refresh its leadership, Nine Feet Tall will now be led by Managing Partner Dave Durrant and Partner Tiggy McCool, who have been an integral part of the firm’s leadership team for seven and fifteen years respectively. They will pick up the reins and continue to steer Nine Feet Tall on the next stage of its journey, while the firm will continue on supporting businesses undertaking complex change, specialising in large ERP implementation programmes.

Speaking about the transition, Durrant said, “Consulting can be a tough environment, often fraught with burn out and prioritising metrics over real outcomes. Esther brought clear purpose and a desire to set up a consultancy focused on people and sustainability. She knew that ambition and diversity are mutually empowering, and this has always been at the core of Nine Feet Tall. I look forward to leading the team forward and continuing this ethos.”