MCN Direct Newswire

Previous Issue: Vol. 10 No. 4, 21 June 2011

This issue is sponsored by:

Management Consultants' News and NCC

This issue's news

1. Accenture partners Saudi prince to build Middle East business
2. Connolly steps down as Deloitte chairman
3. MCA adds two public sector recruits
4. Capgemini approaches fourth acquisition of 2011
5. Capita buys in procurement consultancy expertise
6. Further information - feedback/pass on to a colleague/remove from mailing list

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• Discovering the JD Edwards' ERP solution: It is now even simpler for mid-size companies to adopt Oracle's JD Edwards EnterpriseOne applications, with new Oracle Accelerate solutions and Oracle Business Accelerators.
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1. ACCENTURE PARTNERS SAUDI PRINCE TO BUILD MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS

Accenture has formed a joint venture with the Saudi-based Al Faisaliah Group, headed by Prince Mohammed Al-Faisal, by taking a majority stake in its IT services subsidiary, the Al Faisaliah Business & Technology Company (FBTC).

FBTC provides integrated business and IT services and is a leading ERP solution provider in Saudi Arabia. Accenture plans to combine its own management consulting, technology and outsourcing capabilities with FBTC's enterprise architecture, systems implementation and IT consulting skills to increase the range of services it offers in the region.

Prince Mohammed Al-Faisal, president and CEO of the Al Faisaliah Group, said: "This joint venture will benefit both Al Faisaliah and Accenture. Over time, we will continue to hire Saudi nationals as the needs of our business evolve. Beyond this, the joint venture will bring global best practices to the kingdom."

Managing director of Accenture in the Middle East, Omar Boulos, added: "Strengthening our presence in Saudi Arabia is a priority for Accenture. The joint venture will accelerate the execution of our strategy."

2. CONNOLLY STEPS DOWN AS DELOITTE CHAIRMAN

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu has appointed London-based Steve Almond as chairman of its global board of directors, the highest governing body within the firm. He replaces John Connolly, who has served as chairman of the board since June 2007.

As well as chairing the global board, Almond will act as managing partner of international markets at Deloitte UK and will continue to be a member of the Deloitte UK executive based in London. Previously he held the role of deputy global CEO for clients at Deloitte and before that acted as global managing director of audit.

Commenting on Almond's appointment, Deloittte global CEO Barry Salzberg said: "Steve's relentless focus on quality and client service and extensive global client experience will be significant assets in helping us advance the Deloitte organisation's leadership in the market."

Almond said: "In my many years in the professional services industry, I have learned first-hand the importance of effective governance and have served under a board that truly represents the best in our business and the industry. It is a privilege to take on this leadership role at a time of growth and opportunity for the global market, as well as for the Deloitte organisation worldwide."

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3. MCA ADDS TWO PUBLIC SECTOR RECRUITS

Capita Consulting and iMPower Consulting have both joined the Management Consultancies Association (MCA), adding volume to the organisation's public sector voice and reflecting increased activity in the management consultancy market.

iMPower is an independent consultancy that focuses on change and transformation for local public services. Chief executive Martin Cresswell said: "I am looking forward to supporting the MCA with its advice to government regarding the transformation of public services and, in particular, sharing our practical experience of changing the relationship between the state and the citizen by changing people's behaviour."

Capita Consulting is the recently formed consultancy arm of Capita Group. Director of consulting Lesley Bosworth said: "Capita Consulting has already found being a member of the MCA useful. Our own academy members have participated as part of the Young MCA group and have applied their learning to our growing group of young consultants."

MCA chief executive Alan Leaman welcomed both firms to the association, saying: "These consultancies' decisions to join us underline the importance of the MCA's role as a voice for the industry. Management consultancies with a proven commitment to high standards and world-class services will play a crucial role in helping Britain grow again and build prosperity."

4. CAPGEMINI APPROACHES FOURTH ACQUISITION OF 2011

Capgemini has entered exclusive negotiations to acquire Prosodie, a specialist European provider of customer management services that would become part of Capgemini's New Business Model service line.

Capgemini is talking to venture capitalist Apax Partners and the Prosodie management team with a view to acquiring the firm by the end of July. The acquisition would be paid for in cash and value Prosodie at £337 million, including its two recent acquisitions in the internet applications hosting market, Internet-Fr in France and LevelIP in Italy.

Prosodie has 861 staff in France, Spain and Belgium and offers cloud-based, multi-channel customer relationship and payment services to financial and public sector clients, as well as to telecom operators and major retailers. It made revenues of £152 million in 2010 and is expected to be earnings accretive to Capgemini in 2011.

Capgemini CEO Paul Hermelin said: "This acquisition would be a perfect fit with our growth strategy to expand in the high value-added solutions market. At a time of personalisation and dematerialisation of services, linking up with a leader in front-office transaction solutions and benefiting from its know-how would provide us with a major competitive advantage."

Capgemini's move to acquire Prosodie follows its 2011 purchases of business information management specialists BI Consulting Group and Avantias, and IT infrastructure solutions supplier Artesys.

5. CAPITA BUYS IN PROCUREMENT CONSULTANCY EXPERTISE

Capita has bought Red Procurement and Business Systems, a provider of procurement consultancy services to the public and private sectors. The acquisition is aimed at bolstering Capita's procurement expertise, supporting customers and generating efficiencies within the company.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but Red will add 19 employees to Capita's consulting business as well as a client list featuring Anite Telecoms, BDR Thermea and a number of other FTSE 100 companies, including Capita itself.

Keith Rowling, managing director of Capita Consulting, said: "Red is already well-known to Capita through the services it provides to some of our existing contracts, so the business will complement and enhance our procurement offering. The acquisition will not only allow the team at Red to develop its growth opportunities, but also allow Capita to internalise spend on procurement consultancy across the group."

The purchase follows Capita's recent £6.3 million acquisition of Sheffield-based Technophobia, a developer of web applications for clients including Pizza Express and Co-Operative Bank.

6. FURTHER INFORMATION - FEEDBACK/PASS ON TO A COLLEAGUE/REMOVE

• For more information or if you have any feedback on MCN Direct, please email editor@ncc.co.uk
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Written by Sarah Underwood. Copyright 2012 National Computing Centre.

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