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Tag: Accenture

Accenture Federal Services wins $1.6B task order

Accenture Federal Services has been awarded a task order of up to $1.6 billion to scale and enhance Cloud One, the cloud computing platforms available to the U.S. Department of Defense that are managed by the Air Force, the Arlington County federal contractor announced last week. 

“Accenture Federal Services will help the U.S. Air Force optimize its current cloud environment and support Cloud One in realizing its full potential,” Justin Shirk, a mission operations and cloud ecosystems managing director for Accenture Federal Services, stated in a news release.

Initiated in 2017, Cloud One is designed to provide common secure computing environments, standardized platforms, application migration and support services and data management, according to the DOD.

The Accenture subsidiary will work as a managed service provider for cloud account services, delivering enterprise-scale software support. It will also offer multi-cloud billing and account management services for the Air Force.

This order is the first of three follow-ons to the Air Force’s original Cloud One contract. The length of the task order support contract is up to five years and 3 months.

Two offers were received for the contract, according to the Department of Defense.

Accenture Federal Services employs 15,500 workers. Its parent company reported $64.9 billion in revenue in FY 2024. 

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.

Accenture names managing director for D.C. market

Accenture has named Ed Engles office managing director of its Metro D.C. office, overseeing a region stretching from Baltimore to Richmond, the global professional services company announced Thursday.

Engles steps into the shoes of Marty Rodgers, who has been filling that role for almost a decade while also serving as Accenture’s market unit lead for the Southern U.S. since 2019. Rodgers will continue to lead Accenture in the South.

Engles has led the North America Service Practice for Accenture Song, which provides services including growth, product and experience design and creative, media and marketing strategy, since 2022. He will continue in that role, leading a team of more than 500 employees.

As office managing director for Accenture in Metro D.C., Engles’ responsibilities will include fostering client relationships and boosting community engagement. He will primarily work out of Accenture’s Rosslyn office, according to a company spokesperson.

Engles, who has a degree in marketing and management from Loyola University in Maryland, is active in his community and serves as executive sponsor for Accenture’s 11th Street Bridge project, which supports local and minority-owned small and medium businesses with a mobile kiosk in Washington, D.C.

For fiscal 2023, Accenture reported revenue of $64.1 billion, an increase of 4% over the previous year. The global company has about 742,000 employees in more than 120 companies.

Professional Services 2023: JULIE SWEET

Sweet has been global CEO of IT services and consulting company Accenture since 2019 and became its chair in 2021. She joined the Fortune Global 500 company in 2010 and previously held roles including CEO of Accenture’s business in North America from 2015 to 2019. Accenture’s fiscal 2022 revenue was $61.6 billion, up 22% from 2021.

Named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business since 2016 — and ranked No. 2 in 2022 — Sweet also is on Forbes’ list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women, ranking higher than luminaries like Oprah Winfrey and MacKenzie Scott.

She serves on the World Economic Forum board, the board of trustees for the Center for Strategic and International Studies and since 2022, on the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities – Bridges from School to Work board. Sweet also chairs the board of Catalyst, a women’s advocacy nonprofit.

In June, Accenture announced a three-year, $3 billion investment in artificial intelligence, and the same month, the company partnered with Immersive Labs to fill approximately 1 million entry-level cybersecurity jobs.

Accenture Federal Services announces new National Security lead

Arlington-based Accenture Federal Services has promoted Kevin Heald to National Security portfolio lead, effective May 1, the federal contractor announced Wednesday.

Heald is currently the emerging technology and cyber sector lead for AFS’ National Security portfolio. He was Novetta’s senior vice president of its information exploitation division before AFS acquired the McLean-based analytics company in 2021.

“Kevin Heald brings an entrepreneurial spirit to everything he does,” AFS CEO John Goodman said in a statement. “He’s committed to empowering teams to help mission partners achieve their strategic vision. I look forward to working with Kevin in this exciting next step for him and our National Security team.”

Before joining Novetta, Heald worked with Scitor Corp. as a technical lead and then as an architect. He previously was co-founder and chief technology officer of Herndon-based IT consulting firm Ennovex Solutions.

Heald will succeed Tiffanny Gates, who was Novetta’s president and CEO from 2017 to 2021. She will retire after a transition period and is joining the Accenture Federal Services Board of Managers.

“I’m proud and excited to hand the reins of Accenture Federal Services’ National Security portfolio over to Kevin Heald,” Gates said in a statement. “I’m confident Kevin will bring the experience, energy and focus this role requires.”

Accenture Federal Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Accenture LLP, part of Irish Fortune Global 500 company Accenture PLC. Accenture has more than 738,000 employees with clients across 120 countries and reported $61.6 billion in fiscal year 2022 revenue.

Accenture Federal Services lands $189M CDC contract

Arlington-based Accenture Federal Services has received a $189 million contract to help speed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s migration to the cloud.

According to a news release Thursday, AFS will work with the CDC modernize its portfolio of information technology systems, examine enhancing functionality of those systems, and move systems into a secured cloud environment. The contract’s length is three years.

“We are excited for the opportunity to help modernize public health systems and improve access to data that is essential to CDC’s work,” Jill Olmstead, AFS’ managing director and health consulting lead, said in a statement. “We look forward to introducing innovative ways to achieve CDC’s cloud adoption goals through our public health experience, cloud-first capabilities, and innovation investments, to help advance their mission to protect people from health, safety and security threats.”

Accenture Federal Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Accenture LLP, part of Irish Fortune Global 500 company Accenture PLC. Accenture has more than 710,000 employees across 120 countries and reported $50.5 billion in fiscal year 2021 revenue.

Accenture Federal Services promotes chief leadership officer

Arlington-based Accenture Federal Services promoted Elaine Beeman to chief leadership officer on Sept 2.

In her new role, Beeman will focus on employee experience and succession planning and will continue leading the federal contractor’s civilian portfolio.

Beeman joined AFS in 2009 as managing director of customer relationship for Accenture’s health and public service business. In 2015, she became lead for AFS’ civilian portfolio, focusing on workforce development and inclusion and diversity initiatives.

“Leadership development is a fundamental part of building an exceptional workplace for our employees,” Beeman said in a statement. “I look forward to coaching, mentoring and inspiring the extraordinary talent within Accenture Federal Services to take the company’s growth to the next level.”

Beeman joined AFS’ parent company, Accenture LLP, in 1993 and spent two years with Accenture in Australia, where she led the business transformation team for Telstra, an Australian telecommunications company. Before joining Accenture, Beeman led customer service and marketing programs at AOL.

Beeman earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Delaware.

Accenture Federal Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Accenture LLP, part of Irish Fortune Global 500 company Accenture PLC. Accenture has more than 710,000 employees across 120 countries and reported $50.5 billion in fiscal year 2021 revenue.

Accenture Federal Services wins $118M State Department contract

Arlington-based Accenture Federal Services has won a $118 million contract from the State Department to help the Bureau of Consular Affairs reduce fraud and handle data replication for passports and visas.

The five-year contract includes work supporting a department database that serves as a hub for information between other government branches in support of homeland security. According to an announcement by Accenture Monday, the State Department is exploring technologies including cloud, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

“Emerging technologies play an essential role in how quickly and efficiently federal agencies can glean meaningful insights from their data assets,” said AFS CEO John Goodman in a statement. “AFS is thrilled to support the State Department with automating and standardizing the way data is shared to enhance operational speed and quality for the agency.”

The contract builds on a relationship AFS has with the department, said AFS Client Account Lead Susie Rainey.

“We look forward to applying new methods for improved data sharing among the State Department’s partners to support its mission to lead America’s foreign policy and advance the interests of the American people,” Rainey said.

AFS has 10,500 employees and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Irish Fortune Global 500 company Accenture LLP. Accenture, a global professional services company with a workforce of about 674,000 people across 120 countries, reported more than $53 billion in 2021 revenue.

Hotel industry recovering, but unevenly

The hotel industry will continue its recovery from 2020 this year, but unevenly, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s 2022 State of the Hotel Industry Report.

“Hotels have faced enormous challenges over the past two years, and we are still a long way from full recovery. The uncertainty about the omicron variant suggests just how difficult it will be to predict travel readiness in 2022, adding to the challenges hotels are already facing,” AHLA President and CEO Chip Rogers said in a statement.

The report projects that hotel occupancy rates and room revenue will approach 2019 levels this year. U.S hotel occupancy will average 63.4% for the year, slightly below the 2019 average of 66%. The projection for total room revenue is $168.4 billion, near the 2019 total of $169 billion. In 2020, hotel room revenue fell by almost 50% to $85.7 billion.

While those numbers in some Virginia regions like Hampton Roads and the Greater Richmond area are approaching 2019 levels, Northern Virginia is not, Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association President Eric Terry said, as business travel remains down.

Business travel is likely to remain down more than 20% for much of 2022, and 58% of meetings and events are expected to return, according to the AHLA report.

“Bleisure” travelers — those who blend business and leisure travel — and digital nomads are emerging traveler segments. Fly-to-the-meeting and fly-back-from-the-meeting day trips might become a thing of the past, according to the report.

Digital nomads are people who have the flexibility to work from anywhere and decided to travel, and the number of them is expected to grow.

Hotels are expected to employ 2.19 million people — 93% of their 2019 employment levels. In 2020, hotels employed only 1.65 million people.

AHLA also expects to see increased uses of and upgrades to technology, like reservation systems that allow flexible check-in and check-out times and self-service devices.

AHLA created the report in collaboration with Irish Fortune Global 500 company Accenture LLP. It is based on data and forecasts from Oxford Economics and STR Inc., a CoStar Group division that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality industry.

Accenture Federal Services wins Greater Washington Government Contractor of the Year

The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Professional Services Council named Arlington-based Accenture Federal Services (AFS) the 2021 Greater Washington Government Contractor of the Year in the over $300 million category during their award ceremony last week.

“I accept this honor on behalf of the 12,500 people who every day do extraordinary work to serve our clients and our community,” AFS CEO John Goodman said in a statement. “I am enormously proud of what we have accomplished together over this past year to help our federal government clients solve their most complex challenges and meet their missions. Thank you for making this a truly remarkable year for Accenture Federal Services.”

This year’s event was the 19th annual Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards ceremony. The Contractor of the Year award is “presented to a Greater Washington-area government contractor for distinguished financial and operational accomplishments and for outstanding contributions to its employees, the government contracting industry and the U.S. government in the past year.”

Fairfax-based Kreative Technologies LLC was the winner for the up to $25 million in revenue category. Reston-based Metron Inc. took home the award for the $25 million to $75 million range. Sterling-based REI Systems Inc. won Contractor of the Year, $75 million to $300 million.

AFS has 10,500 employees and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Irish Fortune Global 500 company Accenture LLP. Accenture reported $50.5 billion in 2021 revenue.