Matt Prebble to lead Accenture in UK, Ireland and Africa

Matt Prebble has been announced as the new leader for Accenture in the UK, Ireland and Africa. He will take responsibility for steering the growth, strategy, and overall performance of Accenture across these dynamic and diverse markets – bringing AI experience to the role just as the firm looks to re-orient its talent around the technology.

In the UK and Ireland, Accenture has an approximate 15,000 staff. As they prepare for a period of major change, while the firm looks to respond to global and local trends by pivoting its offering, those staff will be presided over by a new boss.

Globally, Accenture is committed to a huge campaign of both ‘exiting’ and hiring talent, along the lines of whether the firm feels someone can adapt to using artificial intelligence in their work. Having employed 791,000 people three months earlier, the headcount now stands at 779,000 – with CEO Julie Sweet admitting on an internal call that while upskilling is the firm’s “number one strategy”, the firm was working to lay off people who “based on our experience” Accenture deems are “not a viable path for the skills we need" in an era where “advanced AI is becoming a part of everything we do”.

Taking control of Accenture’s UK, Ireland and Africa wings, just as this becomes the firm’s priority, is Matt Prebble. Most recently, the 25-year Accenture veteran led the firm’s data and AI business across Europe, Africa and the Middle East – a team with “the collective mission to help clients transform using data, analytics and artificial intelligence”, according to a release from the firm.

Prebble commented, “In an era of unprecedented disruption, the opportunity and responsibility to help our clients reinvent themselves through AI have never been more significant. Our people, alongside our clients and ecosystem partners, are leading the charge in reshaping industries and driving new growth models. I look forward to working across the full breadth of our services to ensure we continue delivering bold, high-impact solutions that create lasting value for our clients, communities, and the economies we serve.”

The move sees Prebble replace Shaheen Sayed, who had led in the UK, Ireland and Africa since 2023. Still based in the UK, Sayed has now been appointed chief commercial officer of reinvention services at Accenture – a global role, where she will be responsible for streamlining how Accenture delivers AI-enabled solutions that meet the evolving needs of clients.

Prebble added, “I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Shaheen for her exceptional leadership and dedication to our business and wish her luck in her new role.”