Dennis F. Hightower, a member of Accenture’s board of directors since November 2003, is a retired business executive who has had distinguished careers in both the public and private sectors, including more than 30 years of experience in global marketing, strategic planning, operations, international general management, and corporate governance.
Most recently, Mr. Hightower was the United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce from August 2009 until August 2010. Prior to that time, Mr. Hightower was chief executive officer of Europe Online Networks S.A., a privately held satellite-delivered broadband interactive Internet service provider based in Luxembourg. Prior to joining Europe Online in 2000, Mr. Hightower was, from 1996-2000, a professor of Management and a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School.
From 1987 to 1996, Mr. Hightower was a senior executive of The Walt Disney Company, where he served as president of Walt Disney Television & Telecommunications (1995-1996); president of Consumer Products, Europe/Middle East and Africa (1992-1995), executive vice president of Consumer Products, Europe/Middle East (1990-1992), senior vice president of Consumer Products, Europe (1989-1990), and vice president of Consumer Products, Europe (1987-1989) – based in Paris.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Hightower was managing director and Los Angeles office manager with Russell Reynolds Associates, Inc.; vice president of corporate planning and a corporate officer of Mattel, Inc.; vice president and general manager with General Electric Co. in Mexico; senior associate and engagement manager at McKinsey & Co., Inc; and a manager at Xerox Corporation.
Prior to entering the private sector, Mr. Hightower served in the U.S. Army for eight years, where he rose to the rank of major and was awarded decorations for meritorious achievement and valor.
Mr. Hightower holds an M.B.A. degree from Harvard Business School and B.S. and honorary doctorate degrees from Howard University. He received the Alumni Achievement Award in Business from Howard University in 1986, the Alumni Achievement Award from Harvard Business School in 1992, and the U.S. Department of Commerce Pioneer Award in 1996.
Mr. Hightower was a member of the Board of Directors of Accenture from 2003 to 2009, and rejoined the Board of Directors in September 2010 following his departure from the Department of Commerce. Mr. Hightower is also a director of Brown Capital Management.