NEW YORK - Accenture (NYSE: NYSE:ACN) has announced the appointment of Karalee Close as the new head of its Talent & Organization practice. Close, who also joins the company's Global Management Committee, takes on her role effective immediately, aiming to drive the expansion of Accenture's services in connecting people and technology to foster human ingenuity and sustainable growth.
Close brings over two decades of experience in senior leadership roles, with a background in strategy, technology, and digital & AI transformation services. Her previous tenure includes significant positions such as Managing Director & Senior Partner at The Boston Consulting Group, where she was also Vice Chair for Tech & Digital. Close is recognized for her contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as her advocacy for women in technology.
Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of Accenture, highlighted that talent is a top priority for CEOs, especially as companies navigate digital, data, and AI transformations. Sweet expressed confidence in Close's extensive experience in organizational transformations and her ability to integrate new ways of working, reskilling, and upskilling initiatives to drive value for clients.
In her statement, Close emphasized the urgent need for companies to reimagine work and talent strategies in the face of rapid technological change. She expressed her commitment to placing people at the center of change and leveraging Accenture's technology capabilities to innovate in talent, human performance, and leadership.
Accenture's Talent & Organization practice focuses on helping companies adapt amidst change by developing their workforce skills and designing organizations for the future. Close's role will include leading the vision for talent, organization, and change agendas across Accenture's range of capabilities and ecosystem partners.
Close, who holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, will be based in Vancouver. In addition to her leadership role, she will contribute to Accenture's Global Strategy & Consulting group.
The information for this article is based on a press release statement.
InvestingPro Insights
As Karalee Close steps into her role at Accenture (NYSE: ACN), focusing on the intersection of people and technology, it's worth noting the company's recent performance and market standing. Accenture's commitment to sustainable growth is reflected in its consistent dividend payments, with the company having raised its dividend for four consecutive years, signaling a stable financial posture and a shareholder-friendly policy. Furthermore, Accenture's status as a prominent player in the IT Services industry is backed by a solid track record of profitability, having been profitable over the last twelve months and demonstrating a high return over the last decade.
Examining Accenture's financial metrics, the company holds a market capitalization of 211.54 billion USD, which underscores its significant presence in the market. Despite a high Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio of 30.09, indicating that investors are willing to pay a premium for its earnings, the company has experienced modest revenue growth of 2.26% over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024. This growth, albeit slight, points to the company's ability to increase its top-line earnings in a competitive landscape. Additionally, Accenture's dividend yield stands at 1.53%, which is a testament to its ability to generate and return value to its shareholders.
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