Pierre Nanterme

Pierre Nanterme – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Discover the life and legacy of Pierre Nanterme (1959–2019), French business leader and former CEO of Accenture. Learn about his biography, leadership, philosophy, and memorable insights.

Introduction

Pierre Nanterme (7 September 1959 – 31 January 2019) was a French executive and business leader best known as the chairman and CEO of Accenture, one of the world’s foremost consulting and professional services firms. Under his leadership, Accenture evolved significantly toward digital innovation, cloud, analytics, and transformation. Nanterme’s journey is a blend of global ambition, corporate strategy, and a drive to harness technology for meaningful business impact. His life offers lessons in adaptation, leadership, and vision—even in the face of adversity.

Early Life and Family

Pierre Nanterme was born in Lyon, France, on 7 September 1959. He pursued higher education at ESSEC Business School (École Supérieure des Sciences Économiques et Commerciales), graduating in 1981 with a master’s in management.

After his studies, he completed his mandatory military service in France, which was common for young men of his generation.

Details about Nanterme’s immediate family (parents, siblings) are less documented in public sources. He did have at least one child.

Youth and Education

At ESSEC, Nanterme became active in the school’s “Junior Enterprise,” an initiative that engages students in consulting and project-based assignments—providing early exposure to practical business work.

His education at ESSEC equipped him with foundational knowledge in economics, finance, management, and business strategy, serving as a springboard to a consulting career.

Career and Achievements

Early Career at Accenture / Andersen Consulting

In 1983, following his military service, Pierre Nanterme joined Andersen Consulting, which later became known as Accenture.

He steadily rose through the ranks. By 1993, he had become a partner at the firm.

Over the next decade, he served in various leadership roles:

• Managing director for Europe, Africa, and Latin America

• Global managing director of the insurance/financial services group

In 2005, Nanterme was appointed managing director of Accenture France.

Soon after, he entered the global leadership team of Accenture. In 2007, he became group chief executive for the global financial services operating group.

CEO and Chairman of Accenture

In October 2010, the firm announced Nanterme would succeed as CEO beginning 1 January 2011. In February 2013, he also assumed the role of Chairman of the Board, becoming the first European to hold that combined role at Accenture.

Under his leadership, Nanterme charted a bold strategic direction with heavy investments in digital, cloud, analytics, mobility, and security (sometimes summarized with the acronym “IMACS”) to respond to clients’ demands for transformation.

Between 2014 and 2016, Accenture acquired around 50 companies—many in digital or technology-related fields—to accelerate its capability expansion.

By 2017, digital, cloud, and security services accounted for approximately 50 % of Accenture’s revenue—a milestone in its pivot to becoming a technology-forward consultancy.

He also pioneered some unconventional management practices:

• Accenture under his leadership did not maintain a central headquarters; the executive team was geographically dispersed and convened virtually often.

• In 2015, he eliminated traditional annual performance reviews in favor of more frequent feedback models.

During his tenure, Accenture’s market capitalization more than tripled, and its revenue grew substantially under his stewardship.

Other Professional & Public Roles

Beyond Accenture, Nanterme was active in French business and policy spheres:

• He was involved with the Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF), France’s largest employer federation, and chaired its Commission for Economic Affairs and Public Finance (2005–2013).

• He served as chairman of Syntec, a French consulting and technology association (from ~2006 to 2011).

• He contributed to international business initiatives, such as the European Cloud Partnership launched by the European Commission, and the B20 (Business 20) working groups tied to the G20.

Health, Resignation & Passing

In 2016, Nanterme was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. On 11 January 2019, he resigned from his roles as CEO and Chairman citing health reasons, after 36 years with the firm. He passed away on 31 January 2019 in Paris at age 59.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Nanterme’s elevation to both CEO and Chairman of Accenture marked a high point for European executives in global tech / consulting firms.

• He led Accenture through a period of dramatic technological transformation, shifting company identity from management consulting to digital & tech-led services.

• His embrace of remote leadership, virtual operations, and new performance models foreshadowed later shifts in corporate management.

• Nanterme also exemplified the role of business leaders engaging in public policy, through MEDEF, the Syntec association, and global economic dialogue platforms.

• His stepping down and passing due to illness highlighted both his dedication (working until health no longer permitted) and the human vulnerabilities behind leadership.

Legacy and Influence

Pierre Nanterme left a significant impact on Accenture and the broader business world.

At Accenture & the Consulting Industry

• He repositioned Accenture from being largely a management consulting firm to a technology-first, digital transformation leader.

• Under his stewardship, Accenture became more acquisitive and adaptive, integrating new capabilities in cloud, AI, cybersecurity, and analytics.

• His leadership culture—less hierarchical, more feedback-oriented, more virtual—contributed to evolving norms in global firms.

In French & Global Business Leadership

• Nanterme elevated the stature of French leadership in global firms, demonstrating that executive talent from Europe could helm multinational technology consultancies.

• His involvement in policy, employer associations, and international economic groups showed that corporate leaders can play roles beyond profit, including public discourse and economic ecosystems.

As Inspiration & Case Study

• Nanterme’s career is often studied in business schools and leadership forums for lessons in transformation strategy, change management, and bridging legacy and innovation.

• His decisions—such as eliminating annual reviews or decentralizing headquarters—are frequently cited in debates on modern work models.

Personality and Leadership Style

Though not as publicly quoted as some business icons, Nanterme’s style and traits are evident through accounts and his initiatives.

• Visionary & strategic: He had a clear sense of where technology trends were heading and steered Accenture accordingly.

• Bold and experimental: He was willing to disrupt traditional corporate practices (performance reviews, physical HQ) in favor of newer models.

• Collaborative: He engaged a broad range of stakeholders—in his company, in French business circles, and globally.

• Resilient & committed: Despite illness, he continued working and made the difficult decision to step down only when health forced it.

• Humility in leadership: Rather than centralized control, he offered more autonomy to units and teams, distributing authority.

Famous Quotes of Pierre Nanterme

While Nanterme is less of a “quote machine” than public figures in arts or politics, several of his statements stand out, reflecting his mindset and priorities:

• “We are even now considering the next play... I'm thinking about artificial intelligence.”

• “I have been advised by my doctors that I will be able to stay actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the company throughout this process.” (on his illness)

These quotes express his forward focus and dedication to his role even amid personal challenges.

Lessons from Pierre Nanterme

From his life and leadership, we can draw several key lessons:

1. Adaptation is essential
   In dynamic environments, leaders must continually evolve strategy, structure, and culture. Nanterme’s pivot toward digital and cloud services saved and reenergized Accenture.

2. Lead by experimenting
   His willingness to discard conventional processes (e.g. annual reviews) shows that innovation must extend to management practices as well as products or services.

3. Vision must be paired with execution
   It’s not enough to foresee trends; one must mobilize resources, acquisitions, and internal alignment to bring vision to life.

4. Work with integrity, even amid adversity
   Nanterme balanced being a public leader, managing illness, and knowing when to step down—showing dignity, transparency, and responsibility.

5. Business leadership should engage public concerns
   His involvement in employer organizations, European policy initiatives, and global dialogue demonstrates that CEOs need not be isolated from broader societal roles.

6. Empowering teams matters
   Decentralizing authority, distributing leadership, and reducing rigid hierarchies can nurture engagement, agility, and resilience.

Conclusion

Pierre Nanterme’s life was a testament to the intersection of business acumen, technological foresight, and human resolve. From his roots in Lyon and ESSEC to leading one of the world’s most influential consultancies, he steered Accenture through one of the most transformative eras in modern business. His leadership style—innovative, collaborative, adaptable—offers a blueprint for future executives navigating disruption.

Though his time was cut short by illness, his impact endures. Leaders and organizations can continue to draw insight from his example: to remain humble in success, courageous in change, and responsible in action.

If you’d like, I can also compile a more extensive collection of quotes, or explore how Nanterme’s strategies compare to other tech-consulting CEOs. Would you like me to do that?