Corporate Governance Frequently Asked Questions

How many members are on Accenture's Board? Will this number change?
Where can I find Accenture's standards for director independence?
How are board of directors conflicts of interest defined and handled?
How many committees does the board have? What are they?
How long is the term of each director? Do all directors' terms run concurrently?
Are the roles of CEO and chairman of the board split or combined at Accenture?
How are board members compensated for their service as directors?
What is Accenture doing in the area of corporate citizenship?
How can I contact the Accenture Ethics and Compliance Program?
How does Accenture handle personal information obtained in connection with contacts to the Accenture Business Ethics Line?
How can I contact the Accenture Board?
How do I report a concern to the Accenture Business Ethics Line?
What is the Accenture Supplier Standards of Conduct and who does it apply to?

A: The board currently consists of 13 directors. Under Accenture's articles of association, the number of directors on the board shall be at least eight but no more than 15. Shareholder approval is required in order to increase or reduce the minimum or maximum number of directors.

A: The standards we use to assess the independence of our board members are described in Appendix A of our Corporate Governance Guidelines.

A: Board members are expected to adhere to the principles set forth in Accenture's Code of Business Ethics, as well as our policies addressing conflicts of interest, confidentiality and ethical conduct in all business and personal dealings.

A: The Board currently has four standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Nominating & Governance Committee, and the Finance Committee.

A: Currently our board is divided into three classes, with each class comprising approximately one-third of the board members. At each annual general meeting of shareholders, the terms of one class expire, and the shareholders vote at that meeting to appoint/re-appoint the directors nominated for that class. On February 9, 2012, our shareholders approved an amendment to our articles of association that provides for a phased-in declassification of the board and the annual election of all directors. The directors who are eligible for appointment/re-appointment at our 2013 annual general meeting of shareholders will be the first class of directors that will be elected for a one-year term. Beginning with our 2015 annual general meeting of shareholders, and at each annual general meeting of shareholders thereafter, our entire board will stand for election for one-year terms and there will no longer be any designation by classes.

A: The roles of CEO and chairman are split. We believe that having a chairman who is active in the marketplace and a CEO who runs the business and is responsible for delivering results in driving our strategy and operations is a powerful leadership structure for Accenture, and that this is the best construct for the next phase of growth.

A: Contact the program at the Ethics and Compliance Mailbox.

A: Personal information of any individual that Accenture obtains or receives during the reporting and investigation process will be held and used in accordance with Accenture Data Privacy Policy 90 and data privacy law. Personal information will only be used for strict purposes of reporting and investigations. It will be treated confidentially and shared internally with a limited number of people who have a need to know or who are responsible for dealing with Reports and investigations. This may, in some cases, include persons in other countries where Accenture does business.

 

Please view our Data Privacy Notice.

A: By e-mail, contact the board via the Office of the Company Secretary at Office Of The Company Secretary. Or write to our board at:
Accenture Board of Directors, c/o General Counsel, Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer
161 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60601
USA

A:To report specific concerns, you should bring them to the attention of your supervisor, your career counselor, a Human Resources representative, a member of the Legal group or any member of Accenture management. Alternatively, if you prefer, you may report specific concerns regarding Accenture's financial affairs, accounting practices, auditing matters, corruption, fraud—or other serious cases where the vital interest of the company or the moral or physical integrity of our people are at stake—to the Accenture Business Ethics Line at +1 312 737 8262, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (you can reverse the charges) or by visiting the encrypted website at https://businessethicsline.com/accenture.

You should use the Ethics Line only to make a good faith claim. Accenture takes all allegations seriously.

A: Our Accenture Supplier Standards of Conduct, which supplement our Code of Business Ethics, set forth the standards and practices that Accenture suppliers are required to uphold. Accenture’s Supplier Standards of Conduct can be found on the Code of Business Ethics homepage.