The board of directors of Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has named CEO William D. Green to the additional position of chairman, effective Sept. 1. He will succeed Joe W. Forehand, who will retire as Accenture’s chairman on Aug. 31.
Mr. Green, 52, succeeded Mr. Forehand as CEO on Sept. 1, 2004, and has been a member of the Accenture board of directors since June 2001. During his 28-year career with Accenture, Mr. Green has held executive positions in most of the company’s operating groups. In addition, immediately prior to being appointed CEO he was Chief Operating Officer-Client Services, which was part of the Office of the CEO. He also served as country managing director for the United States from August 2000 until August 2004.
“The appointment of Bill Green reflects our support of Bill’s tremendous capabilities and ensures a smooth transition in our board leadership,” said Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, lead director of the Accenture board. “We have been extremely impressed with Bill’s leadership as CEO over the past 18 months, as well as with his contributions as a member of our board for nearly five years.
“At the same time, we have benefited greatly from Joe’s leadership and guidance as chairman over the past five years,” Moody-Stuart added. “And as CEO from 1999 to 2004, Joe successfully led Accenture through a period of significant change and growth, including the company’s transition from global partnership to corporate form and its IPO, one of the largest in U.S. history, in 2001. We thank Joe for his tremendous contributions.”
Mr. Forehand, 57, has been chairman of Accenture’s board of directors since its inception in 2001. He oversaw the company’s strategic change initiative, moving Accenture from a conventional consulting model to a focus on consulting, technology leadership and outsourcing. In addition to serving as chairman and CEO, Mr. Forehand held numerous other leadership positions, including heading both the Communications & High Tech and Products operating groups.
“I’m honored to be selected to succeed Joe as chairman,” said Mr. Green. “On behalf of all the men and women of Accenture, I thank Joe for his extraordinary commitment and contributions during his 33-year career with Accenture. It has been my pleasure to work side-by-side with Joe through some of the most exciting and challenging periods in our company’s history. He has helped make Accenture the extraordinary organization it is today.”
Mr. Forehand said, “Bill has shown exceptional leadership in taking the company to the next level. He and the Accenture people have demonstrated excellence in meeting the needs of our clients, and I look forward to watching their continued success.”
