May 01, 2017

Accenture Interactive Named Largest Digital Network by Advertising Age in Annual Agency Report for Second Year in a Row



Record Revenues and 50% Growth Continue to Fuel the $4.4 Billion Business


NEW YORK; May 1, 2017 – Ad Age has named Accenture Interactive the largest digital network, both worldwide and in the U.S., in its Agency Report 2017, released today. This is the second consecutive year in which Accenture Interactive was ranked the largest digital network. The analysis is based on an evaluation of more than 700 agencies, networks and companies.

Ad Age’s annual Agency Report includes agency rankings based on worldwide and U.S. revenues in 2016. Accenture Interactive reported the highest worldwide revenue of any digital network, at $4.4 billion for Accenture’s fiscal year 2016 (fiscal year end August 31), reflecting year-over-year growth of 50.9%. Accenture Interactive also vaulted to the top spot of the world’s largest consolidated networks, up from #4 last year.

Accenture Interactive ranked as follows:

Worldwide

US

The rankings reflect a banner year for Accenture Interactive and significantly increased demand for its differentiated customer experience capabilities that connect marketing, technology and brand.

“Brands today are created by a series of interconnected experiences people have with a company across multiple, increasingly digital, channels,” said Brian Whipple, head of Accenture Interactive. “Customer experience requires a new level of connectivity between marketing, business and technology, and clients are coming to us looking for a merger of these three worlds. Our ranking is further validation of our unique service model: one that combines equal parts creative agency, business consultancy, and technology powerhouse – all laser focused on creating the best customer experiences on the planet.”

2016 was a milestone year for Accenture Interactive, including having:

“The digitization of everything is fundamentally changing the way brands attract and engage consumers, and this requires a new breed of agency partner with deep technology skills to help reimagine every aspect of the customer and user experience,” said Roxanne Taylor, Accenture’s chief marketing & communications officer. “CMOs are looking for solutions at the intersection of branding, marketing and technology and for partners who can bring innovative thinking and skills to help them create a culture of disruption and experimentation. We’re proud that Ad Age has recognized Accenture Interactive and sees that we are offering something unique and innovative to the marketplace.”

According to the Agency Report, digital overall captured 46.6% of U.S. agency revenue in 2016 -- up from 8% the previous year. The report notes that the agency landscape continues to evolve, and consultancies are rising fast “by gaining a foothold in marketing departments and wooing chief marketing officers with their vast array of strategic and data analytics solutions to big business problems.” Advertising Age’s 73rd Agency Report, published annually since 1945, includes rankings of the largest agencies and agency companies based on previous year’s revenue and is available at AdAge.com/agencyreport2017.

About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 401,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Accenture Interactive helps the world’s leading brands transform their customer experiences across the entire customer journey. Through our connected offerings in design, marketing, content and commerce, we create new ways to win in today’s experience-led economy. Accenture Interactive was ranked the world’s largest and fastest-growing digital agency in the latest Ad Age Agency Report. To learn more follow us @accenturesocial and visit www.accentureinteractive.com.

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. These include, without limitation, risks that: the company’s results of operations could be adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company’s clients’ businesses and levels of business activity; the company’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 changing technological environment could materially affect the company’s results of operations; if the company is unable to keep its supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the company’s business, the utilisation rate of the company’s professionals and the company’s results of operations may be materially adversely affected; the markets in which the company competes are highly competitive, and the company might not be able to compete effectively; the company could have liability or the company’s reputation could be damaged if the company fails to protect client and/or company data from security breaches or cyberattacks; the company’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; changes in the company’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; the company’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the company’s business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; the company’s work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; the company might not be successful at identifying, acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; the company’s Global Delivery Network is increasingly concentrated in India and the Philippines, which may expose it to operational risks; as a result of the company’s geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue geographic expansion, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; adverse changes to the company’s relationships with key alliance partners or in the business of its key alliance partners could adversely affect the company’s results of operations; the company’s services or solutions could infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company might lose its ability to utilise the intellectual property of others; if the company is unable to protect its intellectual property rights from unauthorised use or infringement by third parties, its business could be adversely affected; the company’s ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if the company is unable to manage the organisational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; any changes to the estimates and assumptions that the company makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; many of the company’s contracts include payments that link some of its fees to the attainment of performance or business targets and/or require the company to meet specific service levels, which could increase the variability of the company’s revenues and impact its margins; the company’s results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; the company 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.

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Contact:

David LaBar
Accenture
+ 1 646 456 4505
david.labar@accenture.com