Accenture Announces Executive Changes
NEW YORK; May 4, 2005 – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) announced today that Karl-Heinz Floether, group chief executive of the company’s Financial Services operating group, has been named group chief executive – Technology & Delivery. This new position is part of Accenture’s Office of the CEO, which includes the chief executive officer and chief operating officer.
Adrian Lajtha, managing partner of Accenture’s Financial Services practice in the United Kingdom and Ireland, succeeds Mr. Floether as group chief executive – Financial Services and joins Accenture’s Executive Leadership Team. Both appointments are effective immediately.
In his new role, Mr. Floether, 52, has responsibility for all of Accenture’s technology, quality and delivery capabilities, including its Global Delivery Network, which consists of more than 40 delivery centers on five continents serving clients on a global basis.
“We have created this new position to further enhance our technology capabilities and our excellence in delivery, which are hallmarks of our company,” said William D. Green, Accenture’s CEO. “As one of Accenture’s most accomplished leaders, Karl-Heinz brings keen insights and instincts that will enable us to continue to optimize what we do today and help develop our strategy for tomorrow. His strong track record as leader of our Financial Services operating group, an early adopter of technology and a champion of our Global Delivery Network demonstrates his ability to bring innovative solutions to the changing needs of our clients and the marketplace.”
“At the same time, we are pleased to bring an executive with Adrian’s experience, expertise and commitment to client service to lead our Financial Services business,” Mr. Green added. “Adrian has proved himself in the face of major market challenges, and he will be a strong addition to our Executive Leadership Team.”
Mr. Floether assumed leadership of Accenture’s Financial Services operating group in December 1999. Under his direction, the group grew to more than 12,000 people and generated annual revenues of nearly $2.8 billion; it now serves three-quarters of the financial services companies in the Fortune Global 500. A member of Accenture’s board of directors from June 2001 to February 2005, Mr. Floether is also a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team.
Mr. Floether has spent the majority of his career at Accenture in the company’s Financial Services operating group, focusing mainly on large and complex business transformation and systems integration projects. Prior to being promoted to group chief executive, Mr. Floether was responsible for the Financial Services practice in Continental Europe and served as Accenture’s country managing director for Germany. His other leadership positions have included managing partner for consulting in West Europe and regional industry director for Financial Services in West Europe.
Mr. Floether joined Accenture in 1979 and became a partner in 1990. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Hamburg University.
Mr. Lajtha, 47, has spent his entire professional career in Accenture’s Financial Services operating group, with a particular focus on banking. In recent years he has specialized in customer relationship management, large-scale and complex change management, and the emergence of new business models in the financial services industry. For the past five years, he has been leading Accenture’s Financial Services operating unit in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with responsibility for banking, insurance and capital markets industries in the region. Prior to that, Mr. Lajtha led Accenture’s Financial Services operating group in the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa from 1999 to 2000 and the company’s Strategy practice in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) geographic region from 1993 to 1999.
Mr. Lajtha joined Accenture in 1979 and became a partner in 1990. He holds a degree in Classics from Oxford University. He served on Accenture’s Board of Partners prior to the 2001 incorporation of Accenture and is a member of the Global Financial Services Operating Committee and the UK & Ireland Geographic Council. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Committed to delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with its clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. With deep industry and business process expertise, broad global resources and a proven track record, Accenture can mobilize the right people, skills and technologies to help clients improve their performance. With more than 110,000 people in 48 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$13.67 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2004. Its home page is www.accenture.com.
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Roxanne Taylor
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