Accenture Appoints AI Veteran to Lead UK, Ireland, Africa

​​​​​​​Accenture has appointed Matt Prebble, the executive who built its 10,000-strong Data & AI business across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, to lead the firm’s UK, Ireland and Africa operations. 

Matt succeeds Shaheen Sayed, who moves to the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer for Accenture’s Reinvention Services practice globally. The appointment comes as Accenture reported fiscal 2025 revenues of US$69.7bn, 7% growth that CEO Julie Sweet directly attributed to clients seeking AI implementation services.

“I am excited to step into the role of lead for Accenture in the UK, Ireland and Africa,” Matt says. “In an era of unprecedented disruption, the opportunity and responsibility to help our clients reinvent themselves through AI have never been more significant.”

Matt Prebble: Leading data & AI expansion across EMEA

Matt spent the past two years leading Accenture’s Data & AI division across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, managing more than 10,000 professionals. In that role, he worked with boards and C-suite executives on projects involving data, analytics and AI technologies, focusing on how organisations change business processes and decision-making systems.

Before taking the Data & AI role, Matt ran Accenture's Strategy & Consulting division in the UK and Ireland, as well as the Products client group. He also led the firm's retail practice. His 25-year career at Accenture has spanned strategy, consulting, retail and technology roles.

The UK represents the third largest AI market globally, valued at £72.3bn (US$92bn) in 2024, according to government figures, with London having been positioned as the third largest city in the world for starting AI companies.

Accenture restructures around AI-enabled services

Accenture restructured its senior leadership in June 2025, creating an integrated business unit called Reinvention Services under Manish Sharma. This unit combines Strategy, Consulting, Technology, Operations and the Song division to deliver AI-enabled solutions to clients.

Accenture has said it expects to save over US$1bn from a business optimisation programme, which it plans to reinvest in the business and in upskilling staff. CEO Julie Sweet said the firm is investing in upskilling its workforce, describing this as the primary strategy, but will exit staff where there is no viable path for reskilling on AI.

Research shows AI-led companies outperform peers

Research published by Accenture in 2024 found that companies with AI-led processes achieve 2.5 times higher revenue growth, 2.4 times greater productivity and 3.3 times greater success at scaling AI use cases compared to peers. The number of companies with fully modernised, AI-led processes nearly doubled from 9% in 2023 to 16% in 2024.

Companies that successfully pursue AI-fuelled reinvention delivered top-line performance 15% higher than their peers, a figure expected to more than double by 2026, according to the research. However, the study also found that nearly two thirds of companies still struggle to change the way they operate.

Accenture’s Technology Vision 2025 research found that 69% of executives believe AI brings new urgency to reinvention and how technology systems are designed, built and operated. The research indicated that 77% of executives believe the benefits of AI will only be possible when built on a foundation of trust, with 81% agreeing that trust strategy must evolve in parallel with any technology strategy.

Shaheen Sayed takes Reinvention Services commercial role

Shaheen's appointment as Chief Commercial Officer of Reinvention Services gives her responsibility for integrating how Accenture delivers AI-enabled solutions to clients globally. The role involves co-ordinating delivery across the firm's different divisions to serve organisations undertaking transformation programmes.

Shaheen will remain based in the UK and will continue to engage with local clients, academic institutions and government bodies. She maintains her advisory roles with the UK Government on technology and innovation and has recently joined the Government's Women's Business Council.

“Our people, alongside our clients and ecosystem partners, are leading the charge in reshaping industries and driving new growth models,” Matt says. “I look forward to working across the full breadth of our services to ensure we continue delivering bold, high-impact solutions that create lasting value for our clients, communities, and the economies we serve. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Shaheen for her exceptional leadership and dedication to our business and wish her luck in her new role.”