Andersen changes name

Andersen changes name

JAKARTA (JP): Andersen Consulting said on Friday that the
global management and technology consulting agency would change
its name to Accenture.

The company said it would cease operating under the name
Andersen Consulting as of midnight Dec. 31.

"We are a very different organization today than we were when
we formed Andersen Consulting back in 1989, so adopting a new
name and brand identity is a logical next step in our growth
strategy," said Joe W. Forehand, managing partner and CEO of
Andersen Consulting.

He said the name change followed an independent arbitrator's
August ruling in favor of Andersen Consulting in its arbitration
with Andersen Worldwide and Arthur Andersen.

Under the term of the ruling, Andersen Consulting was excused
from any further obligations to Andersen Worldwide and Arthur
Andersen, including any obligation to make termination payments,
and given until Dec. 31 to adopt new name,

Accenture was selected after an intensive three-month research
and analysis process involving thousands of prospective names,
Forehand said. (hen)