Esther McMorris

, Nine Feet Tall

Esther McMorris is the founder and CEO of award-winning change management consultancy Nine Feet Tall (9FT). Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, the firm specialises in delivering complex change, combining the power of technology and people, helping clients to be more profitable, agile and competitive.
Over two decades, Esther has nurtured an expert team and grown a portfolio of clients, which includes Sainsbury’s, Pennon, NSPCC, Alliance Healthcare, Bupa, and John Lewis, amongst many more.
Her focus on wellbeing, inclusion, and collaboration has helped hundreds of clients improve their performance and supported impressive growth within her own business, which now employs more than 50 people in offices in Bath, London and Manchester.

Nine Feet Tall in figures:
* £5million turnover, nearly doubled from £2.7m in 2020
* 50+ employees, 30% team growth since 2022
* ‘Excellent’ customer satisfaction: Net Promoter Score of 72
* Staff attrition rate of just 6% in 2023
* 4.7 Glassdoor score, with 100% approving of the CEO
* Listed in Sunday Times Best Place to work 2024
* 250+ change programmes delivered

Re-designing the rule book: Esther established a new approach to management consulting. Where consultants may traditionally advise from the outside, she takes a holistic approach, managing projects from theory and aspirational strategy, through to practical execution. More than strategists and advisors, 9FT now oversee the delivery and implementation of complex change programmes. Esther also pioneered a new change capability build solution to enable business leaders to learn how to deliver successful change programmes for their organisations. This has been delivered to clients including Sainsbury’s and Surfachem.

Leading from the front: Esther remains hands-on with clients and was recently Account Lead for Poundland, Weetabix and Children’s Hospice South West. She secured work with new clients in Q1 2024 including Pets at Home, Informa and 2M.

Making a mark: A well-respected business leader, Esther has given a TEDTalk on building a values-led organisation, featured in the ‘100 West Women of the Year’ four times, and was named in Bath and Somerset’s inspiring women 2024.

Diversity and inclusion: Esther set up 9FT in 2004 to be an inclusive, values-led organisation which made consulting more accessible. She has championed the team’s wellbeing through our unique HAY (How Are You) programme, encouraged a culture of learning, and has grown a people-focused business. In what is a traditionally male-led industry, 66% of 9FT’s board and 50% of its leadership team are female, bucking the trends. The company provides diversity and inclusion training to all employees, periodically analyses the workforce to address under-representation for future recruitment, and runs an inclusivity calendar to celebrate events from different communities and faiths.

Esther developed the 9Start Programme to accelerate the careers of talented individuals into multi-skilled, high-performing consultants through excellent training, mentoring, and varied client experiences. 50 individuals have completed the programme since 2007, and several have progressed into senior roles at 9FT. People have always been central to 9FT's ethos. Esther embodies this spirit, leading by example and nurturing an inspiring workplace environment.