Accenture acquires change management consultancy Future State
Accenture has acquired Future State, an Oakland, CA-based provider of change management and business transformation consulting services.
Founded in 1982, Future State helps technology, life sciences, and CPG firms manage organizational changes such as technological adoption, business growth, and post-merger integration. The Oakland firm’s team of expert planners, communicators, and coaches are deeply versed in leading methodologies and best practices, including Agile, Lean, Six Sigma, design thinking, and human-centered design.
Focusing on the human side of change efforts, Future State helps companies create the culture and processes that enable successful transformation. The firm’s offerings cover project and change management, process excellence, organizational effectiveness, learning and development, communications, and technology enablement, among other areas.
Future State’s approximately 100 consultants have supported high-profile clients such as Adobe, Roche, Genentech, and Ericsson.
Accenture’s acquisition of Future State will strengthen the tech consultancy’s talent & organization / human potential practice.
“As the ongoing health, economic and social crises have demonstrated, disruption is constant and companies must adapt to thrive and grow,” said Eva Sage-Gavin, global lead for talent & organization / human potential practice. “By adding the experience and talent of Future State, Accenture is expanding its capabilities to help clients in their business transformation journeys as they navigate a rapidly changing world.”
A change management practice is a useful cross-selling offering for Accenture, which often works on massive technological overhauls at large corporations.
The firm last year bolstered its organizational consulting capability with the addition of Kates Kesler, a New York-based organization design consultancy. The move added approximately one dozen employees.
“Joining Accenture enables us to scale our value proposition by unleashing the unique talents of our design-thinkers and design-doers to help more clients pursue their extraordinary visions that aim to positively impact the world,” said Shannon Adkins, CEO of Future State.
Accenture also recently strengthened its cloud consulting division with the addition of Imaginea’s 1,350 IT professionals.
