This year we celebrate 10 years Accenture. On January 1, 2001, we successfully rebranded our company. We take great pride in the fact that only two years after becoming Accenture, we were ranked No. 53 among the world’s top global brands with a brand value of more than US$5 billion—and that today we have a brand value of US$7.5 billion.As a company, we have seen much change over the past 10 years. For example:

• We have nearly tripled our workforce—from 75,000 employees in 2001 to more than 211,000 people today.
• We have transformed our operating structure—from a group of locally owned idependent partnerships or other entities in 2001 to a public company with net revenues of US$21.6 billion today.
• We have expanded our presence in the emerging markets. In 2001, five percent of our employees were based in Brazil, Russia, India, China, Mexico and South Korea. Today 36 percent of our people reside in these markets.

Our presence in the Netherlands has evolved in similar fashion. I remember when I started at Accenture almost 6 years ago, joining around 1300 local colleagues, based in Amsterdam Zuid. Now, after years of growth, I am working with around 2600 people with our local HQ at the Zuidas.

It promisses to be a big year for us. As we look forward to continue our growth, I would like to take moments as well to look back where we are coming from. Our history, as well as our present state, is not well known in the Netherlands. Looking over our shoulders, we have so much to show and tell about the events which and people who made this firm to what it is today.

To kick things off, let me share with you this History video, giving you a quick overview of our long history. I’ll be sure to post regurarly on some interesting highlights.