Accenture promotes 787 senior and managing directors worldwide

Accenture has appointed 787 people to managing director and senior managing director level across its worldwide operations – including a record number of women.   

Global professional services powerhouse Accenture has made 787 fresh promotions to its managing and senior managing director ranks, with over one third of the new company leaders being women – in line with the firm’s aspirations to grow the share of its female managing directors to 25 percent globally by 2020. Over 30 percent of the promotions were made in its growth markets geographies.

“Every day, these inspiring leaders create an environment where their teams can innovate, push boundaries and be true partners to our clients,” said, Accenture’s CEO Julie Sweet, who took over the top role in September. “As we celebrate their promotions, we also acknowledge their outstanding contributions to our business – and look forward to working with them, and with all of our people.”

With global revenues now pushing beyond the $43 billion mark – up by $3.6 billion on 2018 – the latest round of 787 worldwide promotions follows the 762 made last year, while the 36 percent rate of female managing director appointments has grown from a steady rate of between 28 and 32 percent over the past few years, having jumped from 21 percent in 2014 as the firm’s revenue growth kicked into overdrive.

Yet, while the firm’s Growth Markets division (one of three geographies together with Europe and North America) delivered annual local currency growth of around 15 percent for the past two years – now contributing $8.5 billion to total revenues – its ratio of new managing directors has slipped, from a one third share in 2018 to 31 percent this year. North America has jumped from one third to 39 percent.

In addition to the new managing (730) and senior managing directors (57) and ascension of Sweet to CEO, the top leadership echelon at Accenture has also seen some movement in recent weeks with several fresh appointments. Penelope Prett was named Chief Information Officer early last month, while John Walsh and Simon Eaves have taken over as practice group chiefs for respectively TMT and Products.

“These individuals are not only extraordinary leaders, but extraordinary human beings who set an example for us all through their creativity, humility and compassion,” Chief Leadership and HR Officer Ellyn Shook said of the new directors. “By embodying the principle that how you lead is as important as the results you deliver, and by committing to always do the right thing, they elevate all of us and our stakeholders.”

Sweet meanwhile was recently named in 15th spot on Fortune's annual Businessperson of the Year list – which celebrates stand-out leaders at top performing firms who “tackled audacious goals, overcame impossible odds, found creative solutions”over the past year. Sweet follows in the footsteps of her predecessor, deceased former CEO Pierre Nanterme, who was named to esteemed the list in 2015.