8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

____________________ 

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 ____________________

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 21, 2019

Accenture plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ireland	001-34448	98-0627530
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1 Grand Canal Square

Grand Canal Harbour

Dublin 2, Ireland

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (353) (1) 646-2000

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0000225 per share	ACN	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On September 24, 2019, Accenture plc (the “Company”) issued a news release announcing that Simon Eaves, who currently leads both growth and strategy and global sales for Accenture’s Products operating group, has been appointed as the Company’s group chief executive — Products, effective October 1, 2019, succeeding Alexander van ’t Noordende, who will remain with the Company through December 31, 2019.

In recognition of Mr. van ’t Noordende’s significant contributions during his 32-year career with the Company, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”) determined to waive the remaining service-based vesting conditions for a portion of Mr. van ’t Noordende’s previously granted outstanding equity awards. These waivers will apply to 6,935 time-vesting restricted share units that were granted under the Company’s Performance Equity Award Program and Voluntary Equity Investment Program and 11,771 performance-vesting restricted share units (assuming target performance) granted under the 2018 and 2019 Key Executive Performance Share Programs that are not otherwise scheduled to vest on or following his retirement. Although the Committee waived the remaining service-based vesting conditions for the awards under the Key Executive Performance Share Programs, the vesting for each award will occur only to the extent that the Company’s performance objectives are met over the three-year performance period for each award, with the actual number of shares (which may be below, at or above target) determined based on Accenture’s cumulative performance over the relevant performance period.

A copy of the Company’s news release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
99	News Release of Company, dated September 24, 2019

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

Date: September 24, 2019	ACCENTURE PLC
	By:	/s/ Joel Unruch
	Name:	Joel Unruch
	Title:	General Counsel, Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer

EX-99

Exhibit 99

Accenture Names Simon Eaves Group Chief Executive — Products,

Succeeding Sander van ’t Noordende

NEW YORK; Sept. 24, 2019 — Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has appointed Simon Eaves as group chief executive — Products, effective Oct. 1, 2019. He succeeds Sander van ’t Noordende, who will remain with the company through Dec. 31, 2019.

Eaves currently leads both growth & strategy and global sales for Accenture’s Products operating group, with responsibility for driving strategy, innovation and investments across the group, as well as for its regional sales teams around the world. Previously, he held various leadership positions in client service and consulting within Products, both in the UK and globally. In his new role, Eaves will lead the Products operating group, which serves clients in the air, freight & travel services; automotive; consumer goods & services; industrial equipment; infrastructure & transportation services; life sciences; and retail industries. He will join Accenture’s Global Management Committee.

“Simon brings an outstanding track record over more than 20 years in our Products organization to his new role as group chief executive,” said Julie Sweet, Accenture’s chief executive officer. “He has distinguished himself through his deep industry expertise, the value he has created for many of our largest clients, and the strategic vision and global perspective he brings to the entire business. Simon also is known for his commitment to the ongoing development of our people and leaders, and for living our core values.

“I also want to recognize and thank Sander for his significant contributions to Accenture during his 32‑year career with our company. He has driven impressive growth in Products, our largest operating group, and previously led our Management Consulting and Resources businesses globally. Sander has demonstrated a passion for helping clients transform their organizations in the new digital world, as well as a deep commitment to inclusion and diversity at Accenture and beyond. On behalf of Accenture, I wish Sander all the best in the future.”

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions — underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network — Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With 482,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

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Contact:

Stacey Jones

Accenture

+1 917 452 6561

stacey.jones@accenture.com