Accenture CEO Julie Sweet Breaks with Tradition: Announces Major Restructuring to 770,000 Employees via Video Message

Accenture CEO Julie Sweet communicated a major restructuring to 770,000 employees across 120 countries without sending a memo. Instead, she delivered a video message to convey the company's transformation, reversing five decades of organizational structure to align with AI-driven client needs. Sweet's approach demonstrates how leaders can navigate large-scale change through transparent and personal communication. Her unconventional path to corporate leadership has led to significant growth in revenue, making her one of Fortune's Most Powerful People in Business.

Accenture CEO Julie Sweet recently announced a significant organizational restructuring to her 770,000-person workforce across 120 countries, breaking corporate tradition by opting for a video message instead of a company-wide memo. This unconventional approach highlights Sweet's strategic communication style, aimed at fostering emotional connection and clear understanding among employees.

Sweet's decision to use video communication underscores her belief that major organizational changes require both analytical foundation and human connection. The restructuring, driven by client needs and Accenture's strategy to become the "reinvention partner of choice," seeks to integrate previously siloed business units for comprehensive digital solutions. This transformation, she says, is about reversing "five decades of how we're working" [1].

Sweet's leadership has seen Accenture's revenue grow by more than 50% since she took over in 2019. Her background as a corporate lawyer at Cravath, Swaine & Moore brings an outsider's perspective, contributing to her ability to lead the company in a new direction. Sweet emphasizes that capturing the opportunity with AI requires companies to fundamentally rewire their operations [1].

The video message strategy is part of Sweet's broader communication approach, which includes refining her message through multiple iterations with her leadership team. She ensures that all direct reports work with speech coaches to improve their communication skills, emphasizing the importance of clear and effective communication [1].

Sweet's restructuring at Accenture is not about cost-cutting but about aligning the company with the evolving needs of its clients. The transformation aims to uncover efficiencies and duplications, reflecting a strategic shift rather than a cost-saving measure [1].

In the context of AI transformation, Sweet's advice to Fortune 500 CEOs is to be willing to rewire their companies to capture the opportunity with AI. Many clients struggle with AI because they are trying to apply it to their current operations without fundamentally changing how they operate [1].

Sweet's approach to communication and organizational change demonstrates a forward-thinking strategy that prioritizes emotional connection and clear understanding. This unconventional method has contributed to Accenture's growth and positions the company as a leader in digital transformation.

References:
[1] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/accenture-ceo-julie-sweet-on-why-she-never-sent-memo-to-communicate-the-biggest-ever-restructuring-to-the-companys-770000-employees-across-120-countries/articleshow/123649839.cms