Julie Sweet to lead Accenture as CEO driving innovation, inclusion, diversity

Accenture’s board of directors announced that Julie Sweet has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. David Rowland, currently interim Chief Executive Officer, has been appointed Executive Chairman. Marge Magner, currently non-executive chair of the board, will resume her role as lead independent director.

Julie Sweet, 51, is currently Chief Executive Officer of Accenture in North America, the company’s largest geographic market, representing almost 50% of Accenture’s global revenues. As a member of Accenture’s Global Management Committee for nearly a decade, Sweet has played an integral role in the company’s business and investment strategy. Sweet was Accenture’s general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer for five years, serving as principal counsel to senior leadership and the board of directors, and was actively involved in executing the company’s merger and acquisition strategy and many of its largest and most complex commercial transactions.

Outside of Accenture, Sweet is a leader on topics including innovation, technology’s impact on business, and inclusion and diversity. To address the critical skills gap in America and to create an inclusive innovation economy, she is working with leaders in business, education and government to create a national professional apprenticeship movement.

Sweet serves on the board of directors of Catalyst and is a member of the TechNet Executive Council. She is also a member of the Business Roundtable, a group of chief executive officers of major U.S. corporations formed to promote pro-business public policy, and previously served on its board of directors and as chair of the Technology Committee.

Prior to joining Accenture in 2010, Sweet was a partner for 10 years in the law firm of Cravath, Swaine and Moore. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Claremont McKenna College and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School.

As executive chair, Rowland will continue to play a key role and be actively involved in Accenture’s business. He will chair the Board of Directors, act as an advisor to Sweet and be involved in Accenture’s long-term business strategy. He will also continue to represent Accenture with clients around the world and with key external groups.

Accenture confirmed that there is no change to the business outlook for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2019.