Accenture Federal taps next CEO, as Goodman steps down

Starting Sept. 1, Ron Ash will take the wheel as CEO at Arlington County’s Accenture Federal Services, the federal contractor offering IT services announced Tuesday. He will also become chair of AFS’ board of managers. 

Ash will succeed John Goodman, who is stepping down as CEO and chair at the end of August and will retire March 31, 2025, according to the company. Since 2022, Ash has served as chief operating officer at AFS, a subsidiary of Fortune Global 500 professional services company Accenture.  

Described in the news release as having “an exceptional track record of using the latest technologies and innovation to help clients solve complex challenges,” Ash, in his new role, will work to “advance the company’s ability to help the [U.S.] federal government embrace new technologies, such as generative AI.”  

“Ron Ash is the right leader for Accenture Federal Services in this time of reinvention with data, technology and AI,” Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of Accenture, said in a statement. “He brings both broad and deep experience across the government and commercial worlds, technology, and strategy, and a strong, proven commitment to creating value for clients, people and communities.” 

After graduating from Ohio University in 1996, Ash joined Accenture, where he went on to work in supply chain transformation. In 2002, Ash moved to AFS, filling a variety of roles including leading the Public Safety Portfolio, where he worked with homeland security, law enforcement and first-response agencies. 

AFS described Ash as “integral” to shaping inclusion and diversity priorities. He is an executive sponsor of the Hispanic American Employee Resource Group.

CEO since 2017, Goodman doubled the size of AFS’ workforce to 15,500 employees. During his tenure, AFS increased investments in emerging technology, advanced research and development and human-centric design. 

In May, AFS completed its acquisition of Falls Church’s Cognosante, which provides IT support to federal, state and local government agencies with public health missions. In 2021, Goodman oversaw AFS’ acquisition of McLean’s Novetta, an advanced analytics company that had been a subsidiary of The Carlyle Group, a Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm. 

“His leadership and commitment set new standards for how to serve clients, grow the business, embrace new technologies and ways of working, and bring everyone along on the journey,” Sweet said of Goodman. 

Accenture reported $64.1 billion in revenue for fiscal 2023.