Stephan A. James Named Chief Operating Officer for Accenture

Newly Created Role Brings Coordinated Leadership to Firm’s Strategic Growth Initiatives

DALLAS and NEW YORK, October 3, 2000 -- Accenture today announced the appointment of Stephan A. James as the firm’s first ever Chief Operating Officer. James assumed the newly created position in July.

"This is an important change in the leadership of Accenture," said Joe W. Forehand, Managing Partner and CEO for Accenture. "We have embarked on a bold new strategy for the firm to become a network of businesses that integrates our capabilities, investments and alliances to create value for our clients and stakeholders. To make this strategy a reality, it was necessary to implement new organizational changes. To that end, we have created the firm’s first ever chief operating officer position to bring coordinated leadership to achieve operational excellence and to further develop our capabilities."

"I am excited to have this opportunity to help lead the firm," said James. "The dynamic new economy is continuing to present unprecedented opportunities and challenges for our clients. We are at the cutting-edge of a marketplace that moves at light speed, and Accenture is leading the way to accelerate change and bring innovative ideas to our clients. I look forward to working with Joe Forehand to achieve our bold new growth agenda in the years to come."

In his new role as chief operating officer, James will assume the primary responsibility for implementing key elements of the firm’s new strategy, and will work with the leadership of the firm’s five industry practices (Financial Services, Resources, Products, Government, and Communication & High Tech) to assess business results and support client teams. In addition, he will continue to lead the firm’s cross-market operations functions to achieve cross-market efficiencies, and will have ongoing responsibility for cost performance as well as Global Markets Operations which encompasses finance, human resources and marketing & communications as well as various firmwide strategic initiatives.

James joined Accenture in 1968 in the Houston office. Most recently he headed the industry practices within the firm’s global Resources industry practice. In that capacity he was responsible for the firm’s activities in energy & natural resources, chemicals and utilities industries which accounted for 18% of the firm’s $8.9 billion revenues in 1999. In addition, James was also responsible for Global Markets Operations.

James became partner in 1979 and in 1982 he led the firm’s global Insurance industry group for a five-year period. In 1986, he became the managing partner for the Philadelphia office and in 1989 he moved to Chicago to assume the role of central region managing partner. In 1994, James became the managing partner for the Financial Services Global Market Unit for the Americas, and in 1997 became managing partner for the entire Financial Services Global Market Unit.

James sits on several Accenture management committees, including the Accenture Executive Committee.

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Roxanne Taylor

+1 (917) 452 5106

roxanne.taylor@accenture.com