Accenture rejigs organisational model to further accelerate growth

Global tech-minded professional services firm has announced an updated growth model, to be supported by an expanded Global Management Committee.

On the face of it, global professional services giant Accenture has kicked off the new year exactly as it ended the last – with another pair of acquisitions; adding DACH-based CX and CRM consultancy maihiro and Symantec’s Cyber Security Services business in the US. Yet now the firm, which last year pulled in revenues of above $43 billion worldwide, has announced a change to its growth model, designed it says to help further extend its market leading position.

Accordingly, the firm’s business will now be organised around four primary services lines – Strategy & Consulting, Interactive, Technology, and Operations – while, rather than operating groups, the company will manage its business through its three geographies of North America, Europe, and Growth Markets. Meanwhile, the firm says that it will continue to go to market by industry type and will also be expanding its global industry programmes.

“Our growth model has always been a source of competitive advantage for us,” said CEO Julie Sweet. “In 2014, we created Strategy, Digital and the Growth Markets to grow our capabilities and position Accenture for the next waves of growth. Now, in 2020, with number one global market share and at about 65% of revenues in the New, we are changing to better serve our clients today and tomorrow and continue to scale from over 500,000 people and $43 billion in revenue.”

Sweet, who took over only the three or so months ago and was recently named by Forbes as the 16th most powerful woman in the world, added that Accenture’s formula for market leadership is enduring. “The changes we are announcing today will unleash the full potential of the extraordinary capabilities we have built, create greater opportunities for our people, and act as a catalyst for us to again set the new standard in our industry,” she stated.

In addition to the organisational changes, the firm has also announced coming leadership changes and an expansion to its Global Management Committee from 18 to 39 members – aimed at providing a broader representation of leaders from its services and geographic markets. “We continually transform our business and embrace change to create value for our clients with incredibly talented people, including our deep bench of experienced leaders,” said Sweet.

From a regional perspective, the firm’s Global Management Committee will as of the 1st of March include Singapore-based Growth Markets CEO Gianfranco Casati; Fabio Vacirca, Market Unit Group Lead for ASIAM (Asia, Africa & the Middle East – also based out of Singapore); Greater China chairman Wei Zhu and Japan President Atsushi Egawa; and Egawa’s Tokyo-based colleague Tamae Kobayashi, who serves as Client Account Lead for Growth Markets.

According to the firm, the shift in its operational and management model towards increased agility (“with digital skills everywhere”) reflects an unprecedented period change for its clients, with digital disruption – occurring at the intersection of geography, industry and technology – blurring traditional industry lines and thus making cross-industry expertise an imperative, along with the ever growing need for enterprise-wide transformations and continuous innovation.