Oliver Wyman names Helen Leis global head of leadership and change
Oliver Wyman, a New York-headquartered management consulting firm, has appointed Helen Leis as its global head of leadership and change.
In the newly created role, Leis will focus on guiding clients through uncertainty and complex transformation. She will continue to serve as co-head of M&A in the Americas.
Leis has been with Oliver Wyman for 26 years and is a longtime partner in the firm’s health and life sciences practice group. Based in New York, she has more than 30 years of advising organizations on transformation, integration, and change programs.
Leis has served as co-head of M&A in the Americas since March 2025, and before that spent four years as head of people and organizational performance in the Americas.
She holds an MBA from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree in economics and history from the University of Virginia.
“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,” said Nick Studer, president and CEO of Oliver Wyman. “Helen brings an outstanding combination of expertise, leadership, and empathy to help clients overcome some of the toughest challenges in business.”
In the role, Leis will help clients build operating models and leadership skills to navigate changes in technology, economic conditions, and workforce expectations. She will work across practices, helping clients develop strategies and tools to adapt quickly, align around new priorities, and enact sustained action.
“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,” said Leis. “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.”
Parent company Marsh recently announced Nick Studer would be moving over to lead its risk and insurance broking brand Marsh Risk. Marsh said it would name his successor at Oliver Wyman by April 1.
Oliver Wyman also recently announced a strategic partnership with Cultivating Leadership, a New Zealand-based leadership development and culture transformation firm. The partners will deliver integrated leadership and culture-driven transformation services.
