Pierre Nanterme: dedicated ESSEC alumnus

Pierre Nanterme, a graduate of ESSEC Business School's class of 1981 and CEO of Accenture, passed away on the 31January at the age of 59. Demonstrating a deep commitment to the school, he maintained strong ties with the ESSEC Group throughout his brilliant career with Accenture. It is with great sadness that the entire ESSEC community learned of his death.

He was one of the world's most respected businessmen but also one of the most approachable and dedicated ESSEC alumni. Pierre Nanterme was 22 years old when he graduated from ESSEC Business School. During this time at the school, he was involved with the Junior ESSEC Consulting, the students’ Junior Enterprise. In 1983, he joined Accenture Lyon as an auditor. Step-by-step, he progressed through the levels and 28 years later became Accenture’s global CEO. He then made a bold move by pushing this giant into the digitalization age. A vision that is now universally acknowledged as a model of digital transformation. In 2018, he ranked 40th in a list of the world’s best-performing CEOs by the prestigious Harvard Business Review.

In spite of his important and time-consuming work, he retained a deep-rooted attachment to ESSEC. “I have always loved the spirit of this school,” he explained at Junior ESSEC’s 50th anniversary, in 2017. ESSEC is home to free, liberal and dedicated minds, we like to run free. We are totally open and different. This is what I've tried to accomplish throughout my career.” Accenture’s CEO translated this affection into strong actions. 

“ESSEC has lost one of its most illustrious alumni”

In 2013, he and ESSEC anticipated the emergence of Big Data and he was personally working towards the creation of the Accenture Chair in Strategic Business Analytics. Today, it is one of the most exclusive and sought-after chairs in the school. He was also committed to developing ESSEC's brand new Global MBA on an international scale by joining the program’s advisory board in 2017. An unwavering supporter of the ESSEC Foundation, he never hesitated in welcoming students to Accenture or travelling in person to meet students on the ESSEC campuses in Cergy or La Défense.

 “He was a visionary and a deeply human leader,” said Vincenzo Esposito Vinzi, ESSEC's Dean and President. “With the death of Pierre Nanterme, ESSEC has lost one of its most illustrious alumni and France one of its most illustrious businessmen, who brought his values to Accenture's leadership.”

The entire ESSEC community extends its most heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.

The family invites those who knew Pierre Nanterme to make a donation on his behalf to the Cancer Department of Professor Julien Taieb at the Georges-Pompidou Hospital in Paris (Contact: sylvie.y.raynaldy@accenture.com)