Accenture vs Wipro: Founders, CEOs and History
Accenture was founded in 1989 by Arthur Andersen Consulting Partners, George Shaheen and is led by Julie Sweet. Wipro was founded in 1945 by Mohamed Hasham Premji and is led by Srini Pallia.
Company facts
Founders
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.
Wipro
Mohamed Hasham Premji
Mohamed Hasham Premji incorporated Western India Vegetable Products Limited in Amalner, Maharashtra in 1945 to produce vegetable oil.
CEOs and their tenures
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
Wipro
- Rishad Premji2019–present
Executive Chairman
As Executive Chairman, he enforced a strict return-to-office mandate and publicly cracked down on employee moonlighting, prioritizing utilization rates over aggressive headcount growth.
Source - Thierry Delaporte2020–2024
CEO and Managing Director
He decentralized Wipro's operating model into four massive strategic market units, though he struggled to match the organic growth rates of rivals like TCS and Infosys before stepping down.
Source - Srini Pallia2024–present
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Leads Wipro's push for large deals, consulting-led selling, and AI-enabled delivery.
Source
Timeline: Accenture and Wipro side by side
1945Wipro
Incorporated as Western India Vegetable Products
Mohamed Hasham Premji sets up a vegetable oil business in Amalner, Maharashtra.
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.
1966Wipro
Azim Premji takes over
After his father's death, 21-year-old Azim Premji leaves Stanford to run the company.
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.
2000Wipro
NYSE listing
Wipro lists American Depositary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker WIT.
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.
2007Wipro
Acquired Infocrossing
Wipro Limited acquired Infocrossing for $600 million.
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.
2013Accenture
Fjord acquisition
Accenture agrees in May 2013 to acquire Fjord, a service design consultancy, adding design capacity to Accenture Interactive.
2013Wipro
Non-IT businesses demerged
Consumer care, lighting, and infrastructure engineering businesses move to the unlisted Wipro Enterprises.
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%.
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.
2019Wipro
Rishad Premji becomes Executive Chairman
Azim Premji retires from the executive role and his son Rishad Premji takes over as chairman.
2021Wipro
Capco acquisition completed
Wipro completes its $1.45 billion acquisition of financial services consultancy Capco.
2022Accenture
Accenture Song
On April 26, 2022 Accenture Interactive begins going to market as Accenture Song. FY2022 revenue rises 22% to $61.59B.
2022Wipro
Acquired Rizing
Wipro Limited acquired Rizing for $540 million.
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.
2024Accenture
Udacity acquisition
Accenture completes its purchase of online education company Udacity on May 20, 2024 to support its Accenture LearnVantage training business.
2024Wipro
Srini Pallia named CEO
Srini Pallia succeeds Thierry Delaporte as CEO and Managing Director in April 2024.
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.
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.
2026Wipro
Rs 150 billion buyback approved
Alongside FY2026 results in April 2026, the board approves a Rs 150 billion share buyback.
Acquisitions
Accenture
- Faculty2026Undisclosed
- Ookla (Ziff Davis Connectivity division)2026$1.2B
- Udacity2024Undisclosed
- umlaut2021Undisclosed
- Droga52019Undisclosed
- Fjord2013Undisclosed
Wipro
- Harman Digital Transformation Solutions2025$375M
- Rizing2022$540M
- Capco2021$1.4B
- Appirio2016$500M
- Infocrossing2007$600M
Questions about Accenture vs Wipro
Who is the CEO of Accenture PLC and Wipro Limited?
Accenture PLC is led by Julie Sweet and Wipro Limited is led by Srini Pallia. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Accenture PLC founded vs Wipro Limited?
Wipro Limited was founded in 1945 — 44 years before Accenture PLC, which was founded in 1989. Wipro Limited's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Accenture PLC.
How many employees does Accenture PLC have compared to Wipro Limited?
Accenture PLC employs approximately 799,000 people, while Wipro Limited employs approximately 228,000. Accenture PLC has the larger workforce at 799,000 employees, compared to Wipro Limited's 228,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Accenture PLC and Wipro Limited headquartered?
Accenture PLC is headquartered in Ireland and Wipro Limited is headquartered in India. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Accenture PLC and Wipro Limited?
Accenture PLC was founded by Arthur Andersen Consulting Partners, George Shaheen. Wipro Limited was founded by Mohamed Hasham Premji.
Which company has a longer operating history — Accenture PLC or Wipro Limited?
Wipro Limited has been operating for approximately 81 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Accenture PLC has been in operation for around 37 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 Accenture vs Wipro overview