Accenture announced a new promotion framework that requires senior staff to demonstrate regular use of the company’s AI tools to qualify for leadership advancement. The policy, introduced in a CNBC interview, ties career progression to proficiency with Accenture’s AI platform and is part of the firm’s broader “Reinvention Services” model, which seeks to embed AI across all consulting functions.
The policy mandates that senior employees log into the AI platform at least once a week, with usage data monitored by the firm’s talent management system. The move signals that AI fluency is now a core competency for future leaders and may reshape talent development and retention across Accenture’s roughly 780,000‑person global workforce. The policy is expected to accelerate the company’s AI transformation agenda and could influence the composition of its senior leadership team, aligning talent capabilities with the firm’s AI‑driven growth strategy.
Accenture has invested heavily in generative AI, tripling its advanced‑AI revenue to $2.7 billion in fiscal year 2025 and nearly doubling bookings to $5.9 billion. The firm has trained more than 550,000 employees in generative‑AI fundamentals and is rolling out training to all staff. A $3 billion multi‑year investment in generative AI underpins the company’s ambition to become a leading AI‑enabled consulting firm.
The policy has sparked internal resistance, with some employees describing the AI tools as “broken slop generators.” CEO Julie Sweet has warned that employees who cannot adapt to AI may need to leave the company, underscoring the potential impact on talent retention. The announcement also coincided with a 4.1% decline in Accenture’s market value on the day, reflecting investor unease about the forceful AI adoption push and the risk of employee friction and execution challenges.
"Use of our key tools will be a visible input to talent discussions," an internal email revealed. Sweet added, "Our No. 1 strategy is upskilling… where we don't have a viable path for skilling, we are exiting people so we can get more of the skills we need." She further emphasized that "AI and upskilling are now at the core of everything we do," and that "Every new wave of technology has a time where you have to train and retool. Accenture's core competency is to do that at scale."
The policy’s introduction reflects Accenture’s broader strategy to embed AI across all service lines and to accelerate the adoption of AI‑enabled solutions for clients. By making AI usage a promotion criterion, the firm is aligning its internal talent development with its external AI‑driven growth agenda, potentially reshaping the skill set required for senior leadership and influencing the firm’s competitive positioning in the consulting market.
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