Ken Jacobs

Accenture is well-positioned to help its clients in the current economic climate, says Ken Jacobs.

More relevant today than ever, Jacobs believes, is Accenture’s record of helping businesses achieve high performance. Given that Accenture’s view is a long-term one, Jacobs feels that companies’ ability to spend money at any particular moment is not that significant: what really matters is engaging with clients to help them see beyond today and toward the future state of their businesses.

Jacobs studied business science at the University of Cape Town, joining Accenture in 1991. Since then, he has gained great experience through working in a variety of sectors, culminating in his appointment as executive director. He is a team player who knows the value of collaboration—something his years as an avid soccer player have taught him. This, along with his strong sense of community, has made it easy for him to adapt to team dynamics within the work environment.

"I’ve worked in multiple industries, performing different types of role. The common thread across these experiences is that one has to be innovative in what one brings to clients. In this respect, the ability to effectively leverage Accenture’s global experience is key,” Jacobs says.

Accenture recognises that the primary concern for business leaders at present is how to achieve high performance during these times of economic turmoil. “Assisting our clients with cost management approaches that do not undermine their strategic imperatives will be critical in sustaining leadership positions in these challenging times,” Jacobs advises.

When it comes to helping clients to achieve high performance, Jacobs believes that one of Accenture’s critical strengths is the quality of its team. “Accenture relies on its ability to harness the talents of the team,” Jacobs says. He should know, having had first-hand experience of its benefits. During his career with Accenture, he has been involved in the delivery of several large-scale SAP transformation programs, and feels especially motivated to share his knowledge with his team. “A key focus for me is to help others develop, specifically in the SAP area,” he says.

Born in Cape Town, Jacobs now lives in Johannesburg. While he’s still an avid follower of soccer, after almost 30 years of playing the game, he says he’s finally hung up his boots. Meanwhile Jacobs has discovered, somewhat to his surprise, that he has seriously green fingers, so he has a vigorous and ever-changing garden. He is married to Chantal and they have a son named Cole-Reid.