Accenture

Accenture is a multinational professional-services company that helps organizations use technology, data, human ingenuity, and operational expertise to change how they work and compete. Its services span strategy and consulting, interactive and customer experience work, technology implementation, cloud and infrastructure, cybersecurity, data and artificial intelligence, and managed business operations. Rather than selling a single software product or consumer brand, Accenture typically works through large enterprise engagements, combining advisory work with the design, implementation, and ongoing operation of business and technology systems. The company developed from the consulting business associated with Arthur Andersen. It operated for many years as Andersen Consulting before separating from Arthur Andersen and adopting the Accenture name in 2001. The separation was a major turning point: it gave the consulting organization an independent identity and enabled it to build a standalone public company. Accenture completed its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in July 2001 under the symbol ACN. It later moved its legal incorporation from Bermuda to Ireland in 2009, while retaining Dublin as its corporate headquarters. Accenture’s business model has increasingly emphasized the intersection of management advice and large-scale technology delivery. Its capabilities include enterprise-resource-planning and customer-platform implementation, application development and modernization, cloud migration, infrastructure management, security services, analytics, artificial intelligence, supply-chain transformation, finance and procurement operations, and customer-service operations. The company serves clients in industries such as communications and media, financial services, health, public service, products, resources, and travel. It also works with a broad ecosystem of technology companies and other strategic partners. A central strategic theme has been the shift toward what Accenture describes as the ‘New’: digital, cloud, security, data, and related technology-enabled services. The company has expanded these capabilities both organically and through acquisitions. Its acquisition of Droga5 in 2019 strengthened its creative and marketing capabilities within Accenture Interactive, while subsequent transactions have broadened industry, engineering, artificial-intelligence, cybersecurity, and performance-improvement expertise. Accenture has consequently positioned itself between traditional management consulting, systems integration, business-process outsourcing, and digital-agency markets. The company’s public brand emphasizes change and measurable value for multiple stakeholders. In 2020 it introduced the purpose ‘to deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity’ and launched the ‘Let there be change’ campaign. In 2024, ‘Reinvented with Accenture’ presented client reinvention and technologies including generative AI as central examples of the firm’s role. Accenture remains an active, globally operating, publicly traded professional-services brand headquartered in Dublin.

Accenture’s roots lie in the consulting practice associated with Arthur Andersen. That practice grew alongside the expansion of corporate information systems and became known as Andersen Consulting. Its work increasingly combined management advice with technology implementation, creating a business that differed from Arthur Andersen’s audit and accounting activities. The relationship between Andersen Consulting and Arthur Andersen deteriorated over commercial arrangements, branding, and competition between the consulting and accounting businesses. The dispute ultimately led to arbitration and a separation. In 2000, the consulting organization obtained the right to operate independently, subject to the terms of the separation, and it began preparing a new identity. The name Accenture was selected as the organization’s new global brand. Accenture was incorporated as an independent company in 2001 and completed its IPO on July 19 of that year. The offering was priced at $14.50 per share, and the shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under ACN. Going public gave the company a liquid equity currency and a broader platform for investment, while its origins in a partner-owned consulting model continued to influence its professional-services culture. The new company initially presented itself as a global management consulting, technology, and outsourcing organization. During the 2000s, Accenture expanded across consulting, systems integration, application services, infrastructure, and business-process outsourcing. Its marketing became widely recognizable through a sponsorship relationship with golfer Tiger Woods between 2003 and 2009, supported by the ‘Go on. Be a Tiger’ and ‘We know what it takes to be a Tiger’ themes. Accenture ended the relationship in December 2009 after revelations concerning Woods’s personal conduct. The company subsequently shifted its advertising toward business outcomes and the breadth of its capabilities. In 2009, Accenture announced that its board had approved changing the company’s place of incorporation from Bermuda to Ireland. Dublin became the company’s headquarters and remains the center of its corporate identity. The company continued to operate globally, serving clients through a large network of offices, delivery centers, and industry practices. The 2010s brought a more explicit move toward digital services. Accenture’s 2011 ‘High performance. Delivered.’ campaign used client examples and visual metaphors to explain the value created by its work. The company developed digital, cloud, analytics, mobility, security, and interactive marketing capabilities, while acquisitions became an important means of adding specialist talent and technology expertise. In 2019, Accenture acquired creative agency Droga5 and connected it with Accenture Interactive, reinforcing the firm’s ambitions in experience, design, and marketing services. In 2020, amid accelerating technology adoption and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Accenture introduced a new purpose: to deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity. Its ‘Let there be change’ campaign and the related idea of ‘360° Value’ repositioned the brand around helping clients embrace change while considering effects on a broader group of stakeholders. The shift reflected the company’s growing concentration on cloud, digital, security, data, and technology-enabled transformation. In the 2020s, Accenture has continued combining organic investment with acquisitions in areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud, cybersecurity, engineering, industry transformation, and business performance. Its 2024 acquisition of Partners in Performance expanded strategy capabilities in asset-intensive sectors and energy transition. The ‘Reinvented with Accenture’ campaign launched the same year placed client reinvention and generative AI within the company’s public narrative. Accenture’s present identity is therefore broader than traditional consulting: it presents itself as a global transformation partner that can advise, build, operate, and continuously improve complex enterprises.

1. 2024Partners in Performance acquisition completed

   The transaction added about 400 professionals and expanded strategy and performance-improvement capabilities in asset-intensive industries.

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2. 2020Let there be change and 360° Value

   Accenture introduced a new purpose and global brand platform centered on embracing change and creating value for multiple stakeholders.

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3. 2019Acquisition of Droga5

   Accenture acquired the creative agency Droga5 to strengthen its experience, marketing, and creative-services offering.

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4. 2011High performance. Delivered. campaign

   Accenture launched a major global campaign presenting client outcomes and the breadth of its consulting and technology capabilities.

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5. 2009Reincorporation in Ireland

   Accenture announced that it would change its place of incorporation from Bermuda to Ireland.

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6. 2001Accenture name and IPO

   The company adopted the Accenture name and completed its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange at $14.50 per share.

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7. 2000Separation from Arthur Andersen

   Arbitration concluded the long-running dispute between Andersen Consulting and Arthur Andersen, enabling the consulting organization to establish an independent identity.

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8. 1989Andersen Consulting operates as an independent consulting organization

   The organization’s modern corporate history is conventionally traced to its independent existence as Andersen Consulting, before its later separation from Arthur Andersen and rebranding as Accenture.

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A technology-led professional-services partner for enterprise reinvention, combining strategic advice, creative and customer experience capabilities, engineering, implementation, and managed operations at global scale.

• Strategy and ConsultingProfessional services

  Advisory services covering corporate strategy, operating-model design, organization, industry transformation, business performance, and implementation planning. The practice is intended to connect board-level priorities with practical change programs, rather than limiting engagements to diagnostic reports.

• TechnologyTechnology services

  Technology services include systems integration, application development and modernization, enterprise platforms, cloud migration, infrastructure, engineering, data platforms, artificial intelligence, and technology operations. Accenture commonly delivers these capabilities through multi-disciplinary transformation programs.

• SongExperience and creative services

  Accenture Song is the company’s brand, marketing, customer experience, commerce, design, and creative-services business. It grew from Accenture Interactive and was strengthened by the acquisition of Droga5, linking creative work with technology implementation and customer-transformation services.

• OperationsManaged services

  Managed operations services support functions such as customer service, finance, procurement, supply chain, industry operations, and business-process delivery. These services combine process redesign, automation, analytics, and ongoing operation of selected client activities.

• SecurityCybersecurity services

  Security services address cyber strategy, risk, identity, resilience, threat detection, incident response, and security operations. They are positioned as part of broader enterprise transformation and help clients manage technology risk while modernizing their environments.

• 2024Reinvented with Accenture

  Global

  The campaign presented stories of client reinvention and emphasized how technologies including generative AI could contribute to large-scale business and industry change.

  Outcome. The platform positioned Accenture as an active participant in client transformation rather than only an adviser.

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• 2020Let there be change

  United States · Europe · Asia · and the Americas

  Created with Droga5, the campaign portrayed change through scientific, natural, industrial, and workplace imagery and introduced Accenture’s purpose around technology and human ingenuity.

  Outcome. It represented Accenture’s largest brand move in a decade and was designed to support the company’s 360° Value positioning.

  Source
• 2011High performance. Delivered.

  Global

  A global multimedia campaign used client testimonials, case examples, and visual metaphors to explain Accenture’s capabilities and the outcomes of its work.

  Outcome. The campaign was deployed across international media and became the company’s principal platform after the Tiger Woods period.

  Source
• 2009End of Tiger Woods sponsorship

  Global

  Accenture terminated its sponsorship relationship with Tiger Woods after media revelations about his personal conduct damaged the public image associated with the partnership.

  Outcome. The company moved away from celebrity-centered advertising and later built its communications around client value and business performance.

  Source
• 2003Go on. Be a Tiger

  Global

  Accenture used Tiger Woods as the central figure in a global sponsorship and advertising platform linking his performance image with the company’s consulting proposition.

  Outcome. The campaign became a defining part of Accenture’s 2000s brand identity and was followed by a second Woods-related slogan.

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• 2024Acquisition of Partners in PerformanceM&A

  Accenture aimed to expand performance-improvement and strategy capabilities in asset-intensive sectors.

  What changed. Accenture completed the acquisition of Partners in Performance, adding approximately 400 professionals to Accenture Strategy.

  Aftermath. The deal broadened capabilities in metals and mining, oil and gas, utilities, chemicals, capital projects, energy transition, and decarbonization.

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• 2019Acquisition of Droga5M&A

  Accenture sought to deepen its digital marketing, creative, and customer-experience capabilities.

  What changed. Accenture acquired Droga5 and integrated the agency into its interactive and experience-related business.

  Aftermath. The acquisition strengthened the connection between creative services, marketing, technology, and broader business transformation.

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• 2009Reincorporation in IrelandStrategy

  Accenture operated as a global public company incorporated in Bermuda while maintaining an international operating structure.

  What changed. The board approved changing the company’s place of incorporation from Bermuda to Ireland.

  Aftermath. Dublin and Ireland became more closely associated with the company’s legal and corporate identity.

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• 2001Initial public offeringOther

  After separating from Arthur Andersen, the independent consulting company sought public-market access and a new source of capital for growth.

  What changed. Accenture sold shares in an IPO priced at $14.50 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ACN.

  Aftermath. The transaction established Accenture as a public company and gave it publicly traded equity for investment and acquisitions.

  IPO proceeds. Approximately $1.67 billion (July 19, 2001)

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• 2024Accenture completes acquisition of Partners in Performance

  The acquisition added approximately 400 professionals and strengthened Accenture’s strategy and performance-improvement capabilities for asset-intensive industries, including energy transition and decarbonization work.

  M&A
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• 2024Accenture launches Reinvented with Accenture

  The global campaign highlighted client reinvention and the practical application of technologies such as generative AI across business and industry settings.

  CampaignProduct launch
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• 2020Accenture launches Let there be change brand campaign

  Accenture introduced a new global purpose and a campaign developed with Droga5, presenting organizational change as a source of value for clients, people, shareholders, partners, and communities.

  Campaign
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• 2001Accenture completes initial public offering

  Accenture priced its IPO at $14.50 per share and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under ACN, creating an independent public company after its separation from Arthur Andersen.

  Other
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1. Accenture official website
2. Accenture Investor FAQs
3. Accenture launches Let there be change campaign
4. Accenture completes acquisition of Partners in Performance
5. Accenture
6. High performance. Delivered. campaign
7. Acquisition of Droga5
8. End of Tiger Woods sponsorship
9. Reinvented with Accenture
10. IPO proceeds