Former S&C group chief executive Annette Rippert to retire after outstanding 28-year career at Accenture

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has appointed Jack Azagury as group chief executive – Strategy & Consulting, effective today. Azagury will lead the $15 billion* Strategy & Consulting service, which includes Accenture’s leading industry, enterprise functions, applied intelligence, innovation and corporate strategy practices. A 26-year veteran of Accenture, Azagury is a member of the company’s Global Management Committee.

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Accenture has appointed Jack Azagury as group chief executive – Strategy & Consulting, effective today. (Photo: Business Wire)

Azagury brings deep strategy, technology, and client experience — the hallmarks of Strategy & Consulting at Accenture — to his new leadership role, as well as extensive global experience and perspective, having lived and worked in the UK, France, Japan and the US supporting many global clients. Most recently, he was Accenture’s Market Unit Lead – US Northeast, and before that led the company’s Resources business in North America. Azagury also served as the global lead for Accenture’s Smart Grid Services business and led Accenture’s Strategy and Management Consulting practice for North America Resources. For a wide range of clients, he has led large digital transformations, zero-based operational improvements, energy transition programs, and mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Azagury, who exemplifies Accenture’s Leadership Essentials, is deeply involved and active with Accenture’s Employee Resource Groups, a member of the Board of Directors of Hillel International and a member of the Board of Directors of the Partnership for New York.

“Jack is the right leader during this time of total enterprise reinvention as our leading Strategy & Consulting teams help our clients reinvent with data, technology and AI at the center so they can work differently, engage with their people and customers differently, and transform their business models,” said Julie Sweet, chair and CEO, Accenture. “I have had the privilege of working with Jack, and his focus on our clients, our people and our communities are core to who he is as a leader.”

Annette Rippert, who has served as group chief executive – Strategy & Consulting since 2020, will retire after 28 years of service at Accenture. Over the last two years, Rippert created a strong foundation for the future of Strategy & Consulting, including the acquisition of more than 20 companies, the introduction of Accenture’s “Business Futures” thought leadership, and recognition as a leader in the rankings of nearly 50 industry analyst reports in FY 21. Previously, Rippert led Accenture’s Technology business in North America and helped pivot the business to new areas including data, cloud, platform services and software engineering. Throughout her distinguished career, she helped clients digitally transform in key industries such as communications, media and technology and health and public service. Rippert was ranked first on The Consulting Report’s Top 25 Women Leaders in Consulting for 2022 and was named to the HERoes 2021 Top 100 Women Executives list for her work in driving change to increase workplace gender diversity.

“I am tremendously grateful for all that Annette has done to help Accenture grow and lead over the past two-and-a-half decades and greatly appreciate her leadership and dedication in the challenging early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, steering our Strategy & Consulting team to growth and market impact,” said Sweet.

*Illustrative based on mid-point of Accenture’s FY22 guidance provided in March, results could be higher or lower

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Many of the following risks, uncertainties and other factors identified below may be amplified by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the sanctions (including their duration), and other measures being imposed in response to this conflict, as well as any escalation or expansion of economic disruption or the conflict’s current scope. These risks include, without limitation, risks that: Accenture’s results of operations have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company’s clients’ businesses and levels of business activity; Accenture faces legal, reputational and financial risks from any failure to protect client and/or company data from security incidents or cyberattacks; Accenture’s business depends on generating and maintaining ongoing, profitable client demand for the company’s services and solutions including through the adaptation and expansion of its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in such demand or an inability to respond to the evolving technological environment could materially affect the company’s results of operations; if Accenture is unable to match people and skills with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the company’s business, the utilization rate of the company’s professionals and the company’s results of operations may be materially adversely affected; the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Accenture’s business and operations, and the extent to which it will continue to do so and its impact on the company’s future financial results are uncertain; the markets in which Accenture operates are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; Accenture’s ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if Accenture does not successfully manage and develop its relationships with key alliance partners or fails to anticipate and establish new alliances in new technologies, the company’s results of operations could be adversely affected; Accenture’s profitability could materially suffer if the company is unable to obtain favorable pricing for its services and solutions, if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences delivery inefficiencies or fail to satisfy certain agreed-upon targets or specific service levels; changes in Accenture’s level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a material adverse effect on the company’s effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; Accenture’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; changes to accounting standards or in the estimates and assumptions Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; Accenture might be unable to access additional capital on favorable terms or at all and if the company raises equity capital, it may dilute its shareholders’ ownership interest in the company; as a result of Accenture’s geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue to expand in its key markets around the world, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; Accenture might not be successful at acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; Accenture’s business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; Accenture’s global operations expose the company to numerous and sometimes conflicting legal and regulatory requirements; Accenture’s work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; if Accenture is unable to protect or enforce its intellectual property rights or if Accenture’s services or solutions infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company loses its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others, its business could be adversely affected; Accenture’s results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; Accenture may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” heading in Accenture plc’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture’s expectations.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Technology and Operations services and Accenture Song — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 699,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at accenture.com.

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