Accenture PLC - ACN STOCK NEWS

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has announced it will host a conference call on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. EST to discuss its first-quarter fiscal 2025 financial results. The company will release its earnings report before the call. The conference will be accessible via phone and webcast through the company's Investor Relations website. A replay will be available until March 19, 2025, through both the website and phone access.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has nominated two new directors to join its Board following the annual general meeting on February 6, 2025: Masahiko Uotani, chairman and CEO of Shiseido, and Jennifer Nason, Global Chair of Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan. Uotani brings expertise in consumer goods, marketing, and digital transformation, while Nason contributes extensive knowledge in banking, technology, and telecommunications from her 40-year career. If elected, Uotani will serve on the Finance Committee, and Nason will join both the Finance and Compensation, Culture & People Committees. The Board would comprise 11 directors following their addition.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired Award Solutions, a Texas-based provider of training and consulting services in advanced wireless and network technologies. Award Solutions, established in 1997, specializes in 5G, IoT, and cloud-based solutions training. The company's team of 29 professionals will join Accenture LearnVantage, enhancing their technology learning and training services. Award Solutions offers specialized in-person, virtual, and self-paced training programs to global telecom and technology providers, focusing on technologies like AI, automation, and network virtualization. The acquisition aims to strengthen Accenture's capabilities in providing customized training programs for network professionals. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Accenture has made a strategic investment in Cresta, an AI platform developer for contact centers, through Accenture Ventures. The partnership will integrate Cresta's AI capabilities into Accenture's AI Refinery™️ platform. Research indicates companies applying generative AI to customer initiatives can achieve 25% higher revenue over five years compared to those focused solely on productivity.

Cresta's AI solutions provide real-time agent coaching, insights, and virtual agents to improve performance and customer satisfaction. The platform has been adopted across retail, financial services, telecommunications, and healthcare sectors. Cresta was recently named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™, receiving top scores across 15 criteria.

Accenture has announced new generative AI-powered cybersecurity services and capabilities to enhance business resilience. The company reports a 223% increase in deepfake-related tool trading on dark web forums in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023. New services include Secure AI Solutions, Deepfake Protection, Business Cyber Crisis Recovery, and Quantum Security Suite. The company is expanding its global network with new Cyber Future Centers and has grown its cybersecurity workforce by over 30% to more than 25,000 professionals in 2024. Core cybersecurity services powered by Accenture mySecurity aim to achieve 30-40% cost reduction through modernization and automation.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and ETS announce a collaboration to create a new global talent management solution, combining ETS's AI-enabled Futurenav™ with Accenture's LearnVantage platform. The initiative aims to address the global skills gap through skills-based learning and assessment.

The solution will help organizations measure employee skills and match workers with relevant positions, focusing on both durable and technical skills in an AI-first economy. According to World Economic Forum research, 50% of the global workforce needs upskilling or reskilling, potentially reaching 90% by 2030, with failure to address this potentially resulting in a $15 trillion GDP loss.

Accenture, Microsoft, and Avanade are launching a Copilot business transformation practice to help organizations implement AI technologies. The initiative includes a team of 5,000 professionals supported by Microsoft specialists and access to over 50,000 Microsoft Copilot-trained professionals. Early results show significant impact: Repsol employees are saving an average of 121 minutes per week, with maintenance roles saving up to 225 minutes weekly. The partnership focuses on developing industry-specific Copilots, custom solutions, and AI-powered workflows, with Accenture planning to expand its Microsoft 365 Copilot users from 100,000 to approximately 200,000.

Accenture has launched the Center for Advanced AI Kyoto, a cutting-edge facility focused on empowering clients with AI technologies, particularly generative AI, to drive organizational reinvention. The center features three key areas: business creation through human-AI collaboration, service co-creation using AI and data, and research and development through global partnerships. The facility is equipped with Central AI, which manages operations and appears as a robot guide. Accenture has also signed a comprehensive collaboration agreement with Kyoto University to advance AI leadership, responsibility, and talent development.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and Kyoto University have announced a comprehensive collaboration agreement focused on advancing human-centered AI. The partnership aims to combine Kyoto University's expertise in behavioral economics, psychology, and philosophy with Accenture's business acumen to develop breakthrough AI research and applications.

The collaboration will be centered at the Accenture Center for Advanced AI Kyoto and includes joint research initiatives in leadership impact analysis, behavioral economics applications, responsible AI development, and Multi-Agent Large Language Models. The partnership also emphasizes developing AI-skilled research and business leaders while promoting responsible AI standards and governance globally.