AbbVie vs Accenture: Founders, CEOs and History
AbbVie was founded in 2013 by Abbott Laboratories (spin-off origin) and is led by Robert A. Michael. Accenture was founded in 1989 by Arthur Andersen Consulting Partners, George Shaheen and is led by Julie Sweet.
Company facts
Founders
AbbVie
Abbott Laboratories (spin-off origin)
Abbott Laboratories was AbbVie's corporate predecessor. AbbVie's official launch materials describe the company as formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott. Richard A.
Accenture
Arthur Andersen Consulting Partners
Accenture has no single founder. It began in the early 1950s as the business and technology consulting practice of Arthur Andersen, the accounting firm founded in 1913.
George Shaheen
George Shaheen led Andersen Consulting from 1989 until September 1999. By the time he left, the consulting unit had about 65,000 staff. In 1997 it began the ICC arbitration to separate from Arthur Andersen.
CEOs and their tenures
AbbVie
- Richard A. Gonzalez2013–2024
Founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Served as AbbVie's chief executive officer from its formation in 2013 through June 2024 and as executive chairman through June 2025.
Source - Robert A. Michael2024–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Became chief executive officer on July 1, 2024 and chairman on July 1, 2025. He previously led finance, commercial operations, and corporate strategy roles at AbbVie.
Source
Accenture
- George Shaheen1989–1999
Managing Partner and CEO, Andersen Consulting
Led Andersen Consulting from its 1989 formation as a separate unit of Andersen Worldwide until September 1999, a period in which the consulting unit grew to about 65,000 employees and began the 1997 ICC arbitration to leave Arthur Andersen.
Source - Joe Forehand1999–2004
CEO
Succeeded Shaheen in November 1999 as global managing partner and CEO. Led the firm through the August 2000 arbitration ruling, the January 1, 2001 rename to Accenture and the July 19, 2001 NYSE IPO at $14.50 per share.
Source - William D. Green2004–2011
CEO
CEO from Sept 1, 2004 to January 2011, after serving as chief operating officer for client services. Revenue was $23.09B in FY2010, his last full fiscal year as CEO.
Source - Pierre Nanterme2011–2019
CEO
CEO from January 2011 and also chairman from February 2013. Revenue grew from $27.35B in FY2011 to $41.60B in FY2018 as originally reported.
Source - David Rowland2019–2019
Interim CEO
Chief financial officer who served as interim CEO from Jan 10, 2019 after Nanterme stepped down, until Julie Sweet took over on Sept 1, 2019.
Source - Julie Sweet2019–present
Chair and CEO
CEO since Sept 1, 2019 and chair since Sept 1, 2021; previously CEO of Accenture North America and, before that, general counsel. Revenue rose from $44.33B in FY2020 to $69.67B in FY2025, and headcount reached about 799,000 by May 31, 2026.
Source
Timeline: AbbVie and Accenture side by side
1953Accenture
Arthur Andersen GE feasibility study
Arthur Andersen's administrative services group, led by Joseph Glickauf, carries out a study for General Electric on computerizing payroll at Appliance Park in Louisville, Kentucky.
1989Accenture
Andersen Consulting formed
Arthur Andersen and Andersen Consulting become separate units of Andersen Worldwide Societe Cooperative, with George Shaheen as managing partner and CEO of the consulting unit. The more profitable unit pays the other up to 15% of profits.
1997Accenture
Arbitration with Arthur Andersen begins
Andersen Consulting files an arbitration claim with the International Chamber of Commerce, arguing that Arthur Andersen broke their agreement by building its own competing consulting practice.
2000Accenture
Arbitration ruling and Avanade
In April 2000 Andersen Consulting and Microsoft form Avanade, a joint venture now majority owned by Accenture.
2001Accenture
Rename to Accenture and NYSE IPO
Andersen Consulting becomes Accenture on Jan 1, 2001, a name based on "Accent on the future" suggested by an employee in Oslo. The Bermuda-incorporated company prices its IPO at $14.50 per share and starts trading on the NYSE on July 19, 2001.
2004Accenture
William D. Green becomes CEO
William D. Green succeeds Joe Forehand as CEO on Sept 1, 2004; Forehand remains chairman.
2009Accenture
Reincorporation in Ireland
On May 26, 2009 the board approves moving the company's place of incorporation from Bermuda to Ireland, which remains its legal domicile.
2011Accenture
Pierre Nanterme becomes CEO
Pierre Nanterme becomes CEO in January 2011. The same year Accenture completes its purchase of insurance software company Duck Creek Technologies.
2013AbbVie
AbbVie Launches as an Independent Company
AbbVie launched after Abbott Laboratories separated its research-based pharmaceutical business and began NYSE trading under ABBV.
2013Accenture
Fjord acquisition
Accenture agrees in May 2013 to acquire Fjord, a service design consultancy, adding design capacity to Accenture Interactive.
2015AbbVie
Pharmacyclics Acquisition Completed
AbbVie completed its acquisition of Pharmacyclics, adding Imbruvica and expanding its hematologic oncology business.
2016Accenture
Duck Creek stake sold to Apax
Funds advised by Apax Partners buy a 60% stake in Duck Creek Technologies from Accenture, which keeps 40%.
2019AbbVie
Skyrizi Receives Initial U.S. Approval
The FDA approved Skyrizi for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in April 2019.
2019AbbVie
Rinvoq Receives Initial U.S. Approval
The FDA approved Rinvoq for adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in August 2019.
2019Accenture
CEO transition and Droga5
Nanterme steps down for health reasons on Jan 11, 2019 and CFO David Rowland becomes interim CEO. Accenture Interactive completes the purchase of creative agency Droga5, and Julie Sweet becomes CEO on Sept 1, 2019.
2020AbbVie
Allergan Acquisition Completed
AbbVie completed the Allergan acquisition, adding neuroscience, eye care, and Allergan Aesthetics products including Botox and Juvederm.
2022Accenture
Accenture Song
On April 26, 2022 Accenture Interactive begins going to market as Accenture Song. FY2022 revenue rises 22% to $61.59B.
2023AbbVie
U.S. Humira Biosimilar Competition Begins
Humira began facing U.S. biosimilar competition, and AbbVie reported a subsequent decline in Humira revenue.
2023Accenture
$3B Data & AI investment
In June 2023 Accenture announces a $3B investment over three years in its Data & AI practice and a plan to double AI talent to 80,000 people.
2024AbbVie
ImmunoGen Acquisition Completed
AbbVie completed its acquisition of ImmunoGen, adding Elahere and antibody-drug conjugate programs.
2024AbbVie
Robert A. Michael Becomes CEO
Robert A. Michael succeeded Richard A. Gonzalez as chief executive officer effective July 1, 2024.
2024AbbVie
Cerevel Therapeutics Acquisition Completed
AbbVie completed its acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics, adding clinical-stage neuroscience programs.
2024Accenture
Udacity acquisition
Accenture completes its purchase of online education company Udacity on May 20, 2024 to support its Accenture LearnVantage training business.
2025AbbVie
Robert A. Michael Becomes Chairman
Robert A. Michael added the chairman role effective July 1, 2025, when Richard A. Gonzalez retired from the board.
2025AbbVie
FY2025 Revenue Reaches $61.160 Billion
AbbVie reported FY2025 net revenue of $61.160 billion and net income of $4.226 billion.
2025Accenture
FY2025 results and restructuring
FY2025 revenue reaches $69.67B with $80.62B in new bookings. In September 2025 Accenture outlines a six-month, $865M business optimization program, mainly severance, and moves to a single Reinvention Services unit.
2026AbbVie
Q1 2026 Revenue Reaches $15.002 Billion
AbbVie reported first-quarter 2026 net revenue of $15.002 billion, up 12.4 percent on a reported basis.
2026Accenture
Faculty and Ookla deals
Accenture completes the acquisition of UK AI company Faculty on March 16, 2026 and agrees in March 2026 to buy Ziff Davis's connectivity division (Ookla, Speedtest, Downdetector) for $1.2B in cash. Q3 FY2026 revenue is $18.72B.
Acquisitions
AbbVie
- ImmunoGen, Inc.2024$10.1B
- Cerevel Therapeutics2024$8.7B
- Allergan plc2020$63B
- Pharmacyclics, Inc.2015$21B
Accenture
- Faculty2026Undisclosed
- Ookla (Ziff Davis Connectivity division)2026$1.2B
- Udacity2024Undisclosed
- umlaut2021Undisclosed
- Droga52019Undisclosed
- Fjord2013Undisclosed
Questions about AbbVie vs Accenture
Who is the CEO of AbbVie Inc. and Accenture PLC?
AbbVie Inc. is led by Robert A. Michael and Accenture PLC is led by Julie Sweet. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was AbbVie Inc. founded vs Accenture PLC?
Accenture PLC was founded in 1989 — 24 years before AbbVie Inc., which was founded in 2013. Accenture PLC's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger AbbVie Inc..
How many employees does AbbVie Inc. have compared to Accenture PLC?
AbbVie Inc. employs approximately 57,000 people, while Accenture PLC employs approximately 799,000. Accenture PLC has the larger workforce at 799,000 employees, compared to AbbVie Inc.'s 57,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are AbbVie Inc. and Accenture PLC headquartered?
AbbVie Inc. is headquartered in United States and Accenture PLC is headquartered in Ireland. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded AbbVie Inc. and Accenture PLC?
AbbVie Inc. was founded by Abbott Laboratories (spin-off origin). Accenture PLC was founded by Arthur Andersen Consulting Partners, George Shaheen.
Which company has a longer operating history — AbbVie Inc. or Accenture PLC?
Accenture PLC has been operating for approximately 37 years, making it the more established of the two companies. AbbVie Inc. has been in operation for around 13 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the AbbVie vs Accenture overview