Accenture Ireland embraces AI amid job cuts, restructuring
DUBLIN, IRELAND — Accenture Ireland’s Country Managing Director Hilary O’Meara struck an optimistic tone about the firm’s future, driven by a major $3 billion global investment in artificial intelligence (AI), even as the company navigated significant job cuts and restructuring efforts.
In an interview with The Irish Independent, O’Meara discussed the resilience of Accenture’s Irish operations, the transformative potential of generative AI, and the company’s commitment to leading the way in this rapidly evolving technology landscape.
Accenture Ireland faced a tough period with the announcement of 1,290 job cuts, a decision that O’Meara described as “difficult” and “personally difficult,” given her long-standing relationship with many of the employees affected.
The layoffs were part of a global restructuring effort by Accenture in response to the changing business environment and were not taken lightly. Despite the initial announcement, O’Meara shared that the actual number of departures was 280 fewer than planned, thanks to the company’s efforts to create new roles and reallocate affected employees
A significant turning point for Accenture Ireland is the opening of a new generative AI (GenAI) studio at The Dock, Accenture’s flagship R&D and global innovation center. This move is part of a $3 billion global investment in AI, underscoring the company’s commitment to leading in this transformative technology.
The studio aims to help clients harness the power of generative AI, with O’Meara highlighting its potential to revolutionize every aspect of business and industry.
The firm is also planning to set up more GenAI studios across Asia Pacific and Latin America to meet the growing demand from firms to harness the power of the latest technologies.
Despite the challenges, O’Meara is optimistic about the future, particularly with the opportunities presented by AI. She believes that generative AI will accelerate the pace of change and innovation, offering unprecedented opportunities for businesses to reinvent themselves.
O’Meara emphasized the importance of leading these initiatives from the top, ensuring that AI is seen as an enabler rather than a threat, and highlighted the need for reskilling and building trust in AI technologies.
Reflecting on the past year’s challenges, O’Meara praised the resilience of Accenture Ireland’s staff and the broader Irish economy. Despite the tech sector’s volatility and the impact of job cuts, she remains confident in Ireland’s economic resilience and the ongoing demand for talent.
“My European colleagues look on with envy at how Ireland is performing. We’ve seen great growth in this country over the last 10 years. And I think if we keep our optimism and don’t talk ourselves into something, then we have as much opportunity in front of us as we do behind us,” she added.
