Accenture Acquires Strategy Activation Consultancy Root Inc. to Accelerate Organizational Culture and Transformational Change Using Creative and Experiential Approaches

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired Root Inc., a consultancy with 30 years of experience helping Global 2000 organizations activate strategies and transform cultures using creative and visual methods to accelerate employee engagement and change effectiveness. Root joins Accenture’s Talent & Organization / Human Potential team, strengthening its organizational change management capabilities with multiple new experiential and digital assets designed to engage people intellectually and emotionally and do so rapidly and at scale. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

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Root Inc. is Now Part of Accenture (Photo: Business Wire)

With 130 experts located in Ohio and Illinois, Root collaborates with clients to create and share their strategy and transformation stories in new and different ways that authentically connect with people, drive meaningful conversations, and create ownership for change.

One of Root’s key organizational change methodologies is the Root Learning Map® experience. Used by nearly 1,000 organizations globally, the Root Learning Map uses a large visual format, combined with data and dialogue to illustrate a company’s change journey. This is designed to get employees engaged and immersed in the strategic changes happening across their organizations and connected to their individual roles, resulting in accelerated and sustained strategic change.

“At Accenture, we search for disruptive innovations and methodologies to guide and support our clients as they undertake transformation journeys,” said Christie Smith, global lead for Talent & Organization / Human Potential at Accenture. “By adding Root’s unique digital-based creative capabilities to ours, we will help companies go beyond change management design or measurement and toward activating transformational change at scale.”

Root complements Accenture’s recent Talent & Organization / Human Potential acquisitions – fable+, Cirrus, Future State, and Kates Kesler – all of which aim to expand client offerings and create new ways to deliver value with a deep understanding of client needs and market challenges.

“Our unique ability to help organizations bridge the gap from strategy creation to strategy activation in a way that connects people’s hearts and minds to strategic change is a tremendous complement to Accenture’s focus on being the voice of change,” said Rich Berens, CEO at Root. “We have always been a champion for people and deeply understanding how they are affected by change. We are excited about the opportunity to be a part of the Accenture family and work across the globe to impact the lives of even more people positively and help organizations be more successful in their transformational efforts.”

About Accenture

Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 537,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Accenture’s Talent & Organization / Human Potential connects people and technology to unlock human ingenuity and drive enterprise wide change. To learn more, visit https://www.accenture.com/us-en/services/talent-organization-human-potential-index.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Many of the following risks, uncertainties and other factors identified below are, and will be, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. 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Root and Learning Map are registered trademarks of Root Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of other companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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